THE  RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 


THE 


RANGERS   AO   REGULATORS 


TANAHA : 


fife  ^m0tig  tju 


A  TALE  OF  THE   REPUBLIC  OF  TEXAS. 


CHAKLES    SUMMEKFIELD, 

(A.  TV.  ARRINGTON), 
Late  Judge  of  the  Rio  Grcvnde  District. 

A0THOB  Or  "SKETCHES  OF  THE  80UTH-WE8T.n 


KEW  YOEK: 
ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  PUBLISHER, 

(LATE   DE  WITT   &   DAVENPORT), 

160  &  162   NASSAU  STREET 


ENTXKZD  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1886,  by 

ROBERT   M.  DE    WITT, 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  Di»trict  Court  of  the  Uuived  State.,  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


W.  H.  TIIISON,  Stev«otyp«r.  Gw>.  RUBSWJ^  *  Co.,  Jfrintor.  G.  W.  AUSXAUDBK,  Binder 


or 
THE    SONS    OF    IMMORTAL    QENIUS, 

Whose  political  wisdom  extended  the  luminous  area  of  Freedom  by  the 
successive  additions  of  Florida's  ever-green  peninsula,  of  the  imperial 
domain  and  priceless  delta  of  Louisiana,  of  the  world-controlling  cotton- 
fields  of  Texas,  of  California's  golden  valleys,  and  the  silver  mountains  of 
New  Mexico — and  to  all  those  who  inherit  the  same  passion  for  pioneer 
ing  progress,  and  equal  love  for  the  glory  of  their  native  land,  this  work 
is  dedicated  in  humility  and  hope  by  the 

AUTHOR. 


P  K  E  F  A  0  E  . 


THE  design  of  the  author  in  the  humble  conception  and  hasty  prepara 
tion  of  the  following  work  was  to  give  explicitly  an  accurate  picture  of 
one  phase  in  the  development  of  South- Western  life,  namely,  the  pioneer 
ing  or  transition  state,  and  inferentially  to  account  for  its  existence  in  the 
peculiar  social  circumstances  of  its  actual  environment.  I  had  thought, 
at  first,  to  present  the  matter  in  a  purely  narrative  form,  with  precise 
localities,  names,  and  dates,  so  as  to  realize  a  veritable  history,  as  thrilling 
and  intensely  dramatic  in  its  events  as  any  probable  romance  could  be. 
But  a  little  reflection  soon  satisfied  me  that  such  a  method  of  treatment 
would  be  unnecessarily  cruel,  as  many  of  the  actors  in  those  stormy  scenes 
which  find  a  place  in  the  sequel  are  still  living,  while  the  others  now  no 
more,  have  left  friends  and  relatives  who  would  be  pained  to  a  profound 
degree  by  revelations  of  so  special  a  character.  I  was  compelled,  there 
fore,  by  motives  of  humanity,  to  exhibit  the  facts  in  the  shape  of  a  tale 
or  story,  indulging  at  the  same  time  in  a  few  of  the  liberties  allowed  by 
that  species  of  composition.  Nevertheless,  I  can  truly  affirm,  that  in  no 
instance  have  I  suffered  myself  to  deal  in  exaggerations,  or  to  interpolate 
utterly  fictitious  incidents.  I  have  even  omitted  the  historical  consequence 
of  "  the  poisoned  wedding,"  not  only  from  want  of  space,  but  in  order  to 
avoid  too  great  an  accumulation  of  deadly  horrors.  For  as  it  now  stands, 
the  delineation  will  doubtless  be  charged  with  an  excess  of  dark  and 
gloomy  coloring.  I  admit  the  objection,  and  offer  in  excuse  the  unan 
swerable  plea  of  fidelity  to  the  facts.  I  have  described  society  in  the 
given  sphere  as  it  was,  and  I  may  add,  as  it  always  will  be  under  similar 
circumstances. 


PREFACE.  vii 

Every  new  country,  when  first  opened  to  emigration,  is  settled  by  a 
strange  mixture  of  heterogeneous  elements — by  the  enterprising  and  the 
virtuous  seeking  to  improve  their  condition,  and  by  the  vicious  of  differ 
ent  grades  who  desire  to  escape  from  the  trammels  or  the  terrors  of  the 
law.  In  such  cases,  a  collision  between  the  opposing  interests  and  passions 
becomes  inevitable.  Theft,  robbery,  and  fearful  homicides  precipitate  the 
crisis ;  and  in  the  absence  of  all  legitimate  authority  and  regular  organi 
zation,  the  remedy  of  lynching  is  the  natural  result.  That  is  the  epoch 
of  strife,  turbulence,  and  general  combat — the  state  of  nature,  which  is 
always  a  state  of  war,  when  sanguinary  crimes  provoke  still  more  san 
guinary  punishments ;  and  savage  fury  and  brutal  force  inaugurate  the 
reign  of  universal  terror. 

It  must  not  be  supposed,  however,  that  this  transititional  period  is  pecu 
liar  to  any  geographical  section  of  the  country.  It  has  been  witnessed  in 
Illinois,  in  Wisconsin,  and  in  Missouri,  as  well  as  in  Arkansas,  Texas,  and 
California;  and  everywhere  it  has  been  the  effect  of  the  same  social 
causes.  In  all  the  instances,  too,  the  phenomenon  has  been  equally  brief 
in  duration.  The  evil  soon  runs  its  course.  The  anarchists  and  despera 
does  are  either  exterminated  or  driven  farther  to  the  west ;  and  the  beau 
tiful  spirit  of  order  and  progress  emerges  from  the  chaos  of  confusion  and 
blood.  For,  not  even  in  the  petty  contests  of  life  on  the  frontier,  any 
more  than  in  the  mightiest  shock  of  adverse  nations  and  races,  will 
humanity  or  civilization  ever  suffer  a  permanent  check,  or  lose  a  single 
important  battle. 


CONTENTS. 


%  CHAPTER  I.  » 

The  Travellers  in  the  Storm, 18 

CHAPTER  II. 

Colonel  Miles— The  Midnight  Alarm, 26 

CHAPTER  HI. 

Major  Morrow  and  Sol  Tattle— Captain  Carlyle, 88 


CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Ball— The  Departure, 


CHAPTER  V. 
Major  Morrow  and  Joanna, 


CHAPTER  VL 
Captain  Carlyle  and  Lucy — The  Murder,     ....,...•       78 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Sol  Tattle— The  unexpected  Meeting,          .         ........       85 


CHAPTER 
Uncle  Jack, 96 

CHAPTER  IX. 
The  Two  Duels, 107 


CONTENTS 


PAGM 

CHAPTER  X. 


Revenge, 


t  CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Battle  at  the  Block-House—  Judge  Moore, 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
Lucy, 


CHAPTER  XVHI. 
The  Trial  by  Torture, 


118 


CHAPTER  XI. 
Plots  and  Counterplots,       ........       ....       186 

CHAPTER  XII. 
The  Negro  Meeting,     .............       143 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Narrow  Escape,    .............       154 


CHAPTER  XV. 
Sol  Tuttle  and  Brother  Dave—  The  Brothers  Barton  and  the  Sisters  Ewing,  .        .        181 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Carlyle  and  Curran,  .............        194 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
The  Trial— An  Execution, .       .       240 

CHAPTER  XX. 
The  Rangers, 2s7 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
MaryandLucy, 275 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Major  Morrow  and  Joanna,  ...  .       •       •       •       .       293 


CONTENTS.  XI 

CHAPTER  XXHL 
The  Defeat  of  the  Lynchers, 810 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
The  Defeat  of  the  Robbers,        . 82T 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Major  Morrow  and  Dave  Tuttle, 845 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
The  Jail, 862 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
TheLast, 880 


THE 


BAMEBS  OF  THE  TAIAHA 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE   TRAVELLERS    IN   THE    STORM. 

ABOUT  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  on  the  second  day  of 
April,  1842,  a  couple  of  travellers  coming  from  Louisiana, 
along  the  old  dim  pathway  known  as  "  Morrow's  Trace,"  crossed 
the  famous  boundary  of  the  river  Sabine,  into  Shelby  county,  in 
the  Republic  of  Texas. 

One  of  these,  and  evidently  the  first  in  natural  as  well  as 
civil  status,  was  a  tall,  very  handsome  youth,  richly  dressed  in 
dark  cloth,  and  mounted  on  a  powerful  black  horse,  with  a  pair 
of  revolvers  in  the  holsters  before  his  saddle.  It  would  have 
been  impossible  to  imagine  the  stranger's  real  standing  in  life, 
from  the  mere  survey  of  his  person.  His  countenance  combined 
all  the  shrewd  intelligence  usually  found  in  the  face  of  the  law 
yer,  with  the  more  pleasing  air  revealed  by  that  of  the  politi- 


14        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OP  THE  TANAHA. 

cian,  while  the  live  light  of  bravery  radiant  in  his  vivid  blue 
eyes,  perhaps,  indicated  a  son  of  that  Southern  chivalry,  whose 
fiery  prowess  rivals  any  that  the  world  has  yet  witnessed.  His 
carriage  presented  a  happy  mixture  of  ease,  dignity,  and  grace, 
and  the  heyday  of  wild  joy  and  ardent  hope,  those  twin-lustres 
of  the  innocent  and  inexperienced  heart,  beamed  on  all  his  fea 
tures,  pure  as  the  sunshine  of  spring  in  the  azure  of  heaven 
above  his  head. 

The  young  man's  companion,  and  apparently  his  servant,  was 
a  large  negro  of  the  darkest  dye,  and  from  his  clothing  and 
demeanor,  clearly  a  considerable  favorite  of  the  master.  As  if 
for  the  sake  of  contrast  in  color,  he  rode  an  enormous  white 
mule,  of  whose  appearance  and  performances,  as  he  gazed  at  it 
frequently  and  fondly,  he  seemed  immeasurably  vain. 

Their  course  meandered  through  the  deep  forest  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  Sabine,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  conceive  a  pic 
ture  of  more  profound  and  utter  solitude,  than  that  which  met 
their  eyes.  Gigantic  trees,  like  an  army  of  ancient  Titans,  the 
monstrous  birth  of  unknown  centuries,  towered  on  high  ;  while 
the  luxuriant  undergrowth  of  the  most  brilliant  green,  blended 
with  millions  of  parasites,  and  silvered  over  with  that  grey  wiz- 
zard's  hair,  the  waving  long  moss,  formed  a  wild  web  of  tangled 
verdure,  almost  impenetrable  to  the  wings  of  a  bird,  save  where 
this  one  poor  path  had  been  opened  by  the  axe  of  the  pioneer, 
or  tomahawk  of  the  hunter.  It  looked  like  an  asylum  for  the 
refugees  and  robbers,  who  were  said  to  abound  in  the  country, 
and  certainly  no  bandit's  heart  could  have  wished  for  a  more 
secure  hiding-place. 

Some  such  fancy  appeared  to  trouble  the  mind  of  the  negro 
as  he  glanced  around  timidly,  and  inquired  in  anxious  tones ; 
"  Say,  massa  Boiling,  how  fur  am  y'  guyin'  yit  ?" 

"  A  dozen  miles,  or  so,  Caesar,"  was  the  careless  reply 

"  Oh,  Lordy  !  it's  nearly  night  jist  now  !  what  roariu'  noise 
am  that  ?"  cried  the  black,  in  the  greatest  terror. 


THE   TRAVELLERS    IN   THE    STORM.  15 

As  he  spoke,  the  lurid  clouds,  which  had  been  gradually  mus 
tering,  for  the  last  hour,  suddenly  darkened  the  old  woods, 
and  a  low  moaning  sound  was  heard  in  the  southwest,  like  the 
distant  roar  of  the  sea. 

"It  is  the  wind  I"  exclaimed  the  young  master  ;  "we  shall 
have  a  hurricane,  and  that  will  be  awful  in  such  a  forest  !  come 
on,  Caesar,  and  keep  close  behind  me."  And  they  spurred  their 
animals  to  the  highest  speed.  Nevertheless,  escape  seemed 
impossible,  so  narrow  was  the  winding  trail,  while  the  pendent 
branches,  and  drooping  vines  overhead,  frequently  forced  them 
to  pause. 

In  the  meantime,  the  wilderness,  previously  still  as  the  cham 
ber  of  death,  without  so  much  as  the  murmur  of  a  zephyr's 
wing,  now  began  to  sigh,  like  some  breaking  heart,  and  all  the 
pine-tops  sung  a  melancholy  song,  as  if  whispering  to  each  other 
the  weird  secrets  of  their  impending  doom.  And  then,  all  in  a 
moment,  quick  as  the  coming  of  a  thought,  one  wide,  wild, 
wavering  flash,  the  big  billow  from  an  ocean  of  electric  fire,  dashed 
away  the  darkness,  and  like  the  conflagration  of  a  world,  illu 
minated  the  earth  and  sky.  A  peal  of  thunder  followed,  as 
long,  as  loud,  as  appalling  as  the  simultaneous  burst  of  ten 
thousand  pieces  of  artillery.  This  was  the  signal  for  the  onset 
of  the  storm. 

"  Oh  !  massa,  we'll  never  see  Alabam'  agin  I"  lamented  the 
negro,  with  looks  of  horror. 

"  Fear  not,  Ca3sar  1"  shouted  the  youth  ;  "  we  will  soon  reach 
more  open  woods." 

But  the  hurricane  howled  more  wildly  than  ever,  and  even 
hope  died  in  the  quivering  heart,  before  that  dreadful  scene  of 
utter  desolation.  Immense  limbs  were  torn  from  the  tallest 
trees,  while  the  small  ones  lost  their  green  leaves  and  golden 
flowers,  as  if  stripped  to  nakedness  by  some  human  hand.  The 
poor  birds  fled  from  their  ruined  nests,  and  unable  to  ride  on 
the  giddy  gyrations  of  the  whirlwind,  flapped  their  useless  wings 


16        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OP  THE  TANAHA. 

and  fell  upon  the  earth.  The  most  savage  beasts,  all  their  fero 
cious  instincts  quelled  by  the  presence  of  a  common  peril,  filled 
the  forest  with  yells  of  terror,  or  cries  of  mortal  anguish. 

Then,  all  became  hushed  ;  but  the  silence  was  more  awfully 
ominous  than  the  rolling  reverberations  of  the  thunder,  or  the 
deepest  roar  from  the  voice  of  the  storm.  The  wild  animals, 
soothed  by  the  delusive  calm,  and  deeming  the  danger  already 
past,  ceased  their  frightful  clamor,  and  all  was  still 

"  Now  is  the  time,  Caesar,"  exclaimed  the  young  master,  "  let 
us  fly  for  our  lives  1J;  And  they  sped  onwards  with  the  velocity 
of  the  wind,  and  shortly  reached  a  small  glade,  where  they 
leaped  from  their  saddles,  and  sought  a  precarious  shelter  under 
the  boughs  of  a  low,  but  sturdy  oak,  near  the  centre  of  this 
natural  meadow. 

"  I  think  that  we  are  safe,  at  last,"  murmured  the  youth,  with 
'white  lips. 

"  I  guess  so,"  ejaculated  the  slave,  through  the  chattering 
teeth. 

But  at  the  instant,  blacker  darkness  enveloped  the  earth,  and 
more  lurid  lightning  rent  the  sky.  The  tornado,  like  a  drunken 
devil  fresh  from  slumber,  awakened  with  more  frightul  fury.  It 
seized  the  soaring  pine  trees  in  the  surrounding  forest,  twisted 
them  together  like  ropes,  and  hurled  them  down  in  great  heaps 
of  ruin.  Titanian  trunks,  that  had  braved  the  thunder  of  a 
thousand  storms,  bowed  in  the  dust  almost  without  resistance. 

The  terrified  horse  and  mule  plunged,  snorted,  and  broke 
away  from  their  bridles,  but  only  to  return  and  sink  upon  their 
trembling  knees,  as  if  to  implore  human  protection. 

Then,  the  very  vault  of  heaven  itself  appeared  to  part,  as  if 
split  asunder  by  the  lightning  of  an  archangel's  sword  ;  and  the 
great  rain,  in  roaring  cataracts,  rushed  out  of  the  clouds,  like 
another  deluge,  to  drown  the  world. 

But  again,  the  tempest  paused-;  and  a  ribbon  of  radiant 
blue  sky  was  seen  low  down  in  the  west,  from  which  the  setting 


THE   TRAVELLERS    IN   THE    STORM.  It 

sun  soon  poured  a  flood  of  golden  glory,  with  beams  as  divinely 
bright  as  if  no  tears  had  ever  stained  the  fair  face  of  either 
man  or  nature. 

"  All  right,  now  !  hurrah  for  Alabam'  and  Massa  Boiling  !" 
shouted  Caesar,  with  a  sudden  light  of  joy  in  his  enormous  white 
eyes,  ardent  in  the  ratio  of  his  recent  horror. 

All  at  once,  a  faint,  startled  cry  was  heard,  then  a  wild, 
piercing  shriek,  and  a  young  girl  emerged  from  the  forest,  with 
pale  features,  and  fear-frenzied  looks,  exclaiming,  in  a  voice  of 
sweet,  yet  indescribably  mournful  music,  "  Oh  !  save  me,  for 
the  love  of  Christ  !" 

Her  snowy  robes,  tnoroughly  saturated  with  the  late  rain, 
revealed  a  slender  form  of  matchless  symmetry  and  grace,  and 
her  visage,  though  pallid  in  the  extreme,  was  beautiful  as  the 
picture  of  an  angel. 

The  young  traveller,  thinking  that  she  would  faint  with  her 
naii.t  kss  agitation,  flew  to  meet  her,  and  extended  his  arms  for 
support,  when  suddenly,  as"  the  last  burning  bolt  of  the  thunder 
storm,  a  forked  arrow  of  amethystine  flame  dashed  between 
them,  and  both  sank  upon  the  earth,  with  their  unconscious  lips 
in  contact,  while  a  final  peal  from  heaven,  louder  than  all  the 
rest,  sounded  like  a  knell  for  their  funeral  ! 

"Oh  I  my  dear  Massa  Boiling  1"  cried  the  terrified  slave, 
rushing  to  the  fallen  youth.  But  the  latter  had  been  only 
stunned,  and  quickly  recovering,  devoted  himself  to  the  resusci 
tation  of  the  lovely  being  who  had  been  struck  down  by  his 
side. 

She  lay  among  the  flowers  on  the  greensward,  without  motion 
or  any  signs  of  Jife  ;  and  yet  the  young  man  thought  her  far 
more  beautiful  than  any  form  of  animated  flesh  that  ever  had 
dawned  on  his  gazing  eyes,  or  glittered  even  in  his  rarest 
dreams. 

He  lifted  her  up  in  his  arms.  He  chafed  her  soft  white  hands 
and  snowy  temples.  He  pressed  her  bosom  to  his  heart,  as  if 


18  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OF  THE   TAN  AHA. 

he  might  warm  that  bewitching  clay,  by  the  fires  which  he  felt 
in  his  own  blood.  He  breathed  upon  her  pale  lips  ;  but  still 
seemingly  all  in  vain. 

He  raised  a  countenance  of  unutterable  agony  towards  the 
pitiless  arch  of  heaven,  exclaiming,  in  half  frantic  accents, 
"  Great  God  !  let  her  yet  live  1  she  is  too  beautiful  to  die  1" 

At  last  her  breast  stirred  gently.  Like  some  new-born  zephyr, 
an  almost  inaudible  sigh  fluttered  again  on  her  sweet  rose-bud 
of  a  mouth.  The  lily-like  lids  and  raven  lashes  parted,  and  the 
brilliant  black  eyes  shone  out  with  a  bewildered  expression,  like 
one  suddenly  aroused  from  the  weird  enchantment  of  a  horrible 
dream. 

The  youth  uttered  an  ejaculation  of  insuppressible  joy  ;  and 
even  Caesar  murmured  his  humble,  quiet  gratitude,  "  Thank  the 
good  Lordy  ;  for  she's  the  finest  gal  eber  I  seed  1" 

"Where  am  I  ?  Who  are  you  ?"  said  the  young  girl,  in  a 
faint,  frightened  whisper,  withdrawing  herself  from  the  invol 
untary  embrace  of  the  traveller,-  with  a  blush  of  maiden 
modesty,  not  unmixed  with  many  tokens  of  alarm. 

"  I  am  the  stranger,"  answered  Boiling,  in  tones  of  unspeak 
able  kindness,  "  from  whom  you  requested  protection  the 
moment  before  we  were  both  smitten  to  the  earth  by  lightning  ; 
and  I  now  offer  you  any  assistance  which  it  may  be  in  my  power 
to  render." 

She  gazed  upon  his  countenance  with  her  dark,  starry  eyes, 
timid  and  tearful,  as  if  in  doubt  as  to  the  prudence  of  trusting 
one  that  she  knew  not,  and  had  never  previously  seen. 

"  Fear  me  not,  fair  lady,"  remarked  the  youth,  tenderly,  but 
with  a  certain  air  of  noble  pride  ;  "  I  am  a  gentleman,  and  as 
such  would  sooner  behold  my  right  hand  wither  than  harm, 
or  even  insult,  by  word,  look,  or  gesture,  any  being  bearing 
the  sex  of  my  sainted  mother,  much  less  a  virgin  lovely  and 
pure  as  the  one  now  before  me  and  who  has  so  nearly  rnet  death 
by  my  side  " 


THE   TRAVELLERS    IN    THE    STORM.  .  19 

"  Miss,  believe  rnassa  William  Boiling,"  interposed  Caesar,  in 
accents  of  gentle  persuasion  ;  "  he's  of  the  first  family  in  old 
Yirginny.  His  father's  judge  in  Alabam',  and  all  of  'em  am  rich 
as  cream." 

Soothed  by  the  delicious  music  of  the  master's  voice,  and  by 
the  seeming  candor  of  the  servant's  manner,  the  suspicions  of 
the  girl  rapidly  gave  way,  but  still  she  remained  silent. 

"  May  I  be  permitted  to  inquire,"  said  Boiling,  in  tones  of 
the  deepest  sympathy,  "  what  unfortunate  chance  exposed  you 
thus  to  the  fury  of  the  storm,  in  a  place  so  far  from  the  settle 
ments  ?" 

As  he  spoke,  the  wild  notes  of  a  bugle,  long,  loud,  and  linger 
ing,  rung  on  the  evening  air,  at  the  distance  of  some  half  a  mile 
to  the  left,  and  immediately  a  similar  sound,  as  of  a  preconcerted 
signal,  responded  from  the  right. 

The  effect  on  the  mind  of  the  maiden  was  instantaneous  and 
awful  as  magic.  At  one  frightful  leap,  she  sprung  back  to  the 
bosom  of  her  proffered  protector,  and  clinging  there  with  con 
vulsive  energy,  her  quivering  arms  around  his  neck,  she  gasped, 
"  The  robbers  !  the  robbers  !  I  am  lost  1" 

In  vain  the  astonished  traveller  sought  to  ascertain  the  causes 
of  her  apprehension.  She  still  murmured,  "  The  robbers  I  the 
robbers  I  Save  me,  or  I  am  lost  I" 

"  I  will  save  you,  or  sink  in  death  by  your  side,"  answered  the 
youth,  in  accents  of  terrible  determination,  as  his  brave  blue 
eyes  flashed  with  the  lightning  of  battle.  He  instantly  sprang, 
into  the  saddle,  and  commanded,  "  Caesar,  help  her  up  behind 
me.  They  must  have  swift  horses  to  overtake  mine,  and  a 
formidable  force  to  withstand  my  two  revolvers  !" 

The  gigantic  slave  lifted  the  fairy  form  to  her  seat,  as  easily 
as  if  she  had  been  an  infant,  so  great  was  his  strength  ;  and  the 
party  hurried  away  along  the  path  towards  Shelbyville. 

But  they  were  destined  to  encounter  many  difficulties,  which 
rendered  their  progress  slow  and  toilsome  ;  for  the  tempest  had 


20-        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

blown  down  several  large  trees  across  the  trail,  and  in  other 
localities,  had  filled  it  with  tangled  branches.  At  length,  they 
emerged  from  the  wreck  left  by  the  hurricane,  which  had 
expended  its  principal  force  in  a  circular  space,  of  not  more  than 
three  miles  in  diameter  ;  but  the  pale  shadows  of  evening  had 
deepened  into  the  darkness  of  night,  and  although  the  burning 
beauty  of  a  thousand  stars  glittered  on  high,  their  mild  lustre 
could  not  penetrate  the  thick  mantle  of  foliage  that  hung  on 
the  surrounding  forest,  almost  as  rayless  as  the  gloom  of  a 
cavern.  The  young  man,  no  longer  able  to  perceive  any  trace 
of  the  path,  dropped  the  reins  on  his  horse's  neck,  confiding  in 
the  sharper  vision  and  peculiar  instincts  of  the  noble  animal.  A 
death-like  silence  reigned  in  the  solemn  woods,  broken  only  by 
the  occasional  shrieks  of  some  night-bird,  or  the  savage  cries  of 
rage  or  hunger  uttered  by  the  wild  beasts  in  their  nocturnal 
forays. 

The  arms  of  tne  virgin  ciaspea  tne  waist  of  the  traveller 
more  trustfully.  He  could  hear,  in  fancy,  the  beating  of  her 
heart.  He  felt  upon  his  cheek  her  warm  breath,  intoxicating 
his  senses  like  some  delicious  perfume.  Ah,  me  !  how  many 
unimaginable  consequences,  for  good  or  evil,  might  that  myste 
rious  chance  have  to  answer  for,  which  thus  strangely  threw 
those  young  souls  together  !  What  glowing  hopes  it  might 
kindle  or  quench  I  What  hearts  it  might  bless  to  beatitude,  or 
break  for  ever  !  What  luxuries  of  love,  what  horrors  of 
hatred,  what  curses  of  crime,  innumerable,  all-absorbing,  endless, 
might  it  not  entail  on  these  two,  and  others  !  What  wonder 
ful,  yet  weak  and  wavering  beings  we  are  1 — human  atoms  float 
ing  at  random  on  the  great  life-sea,  that  every  wind  and  tide 
may  toss  about  at  will.  A  sudden  concurrence  of  circumstances, 
the  most  unexpected,  the  most  trivial  and  fortuitous — the  tones 
of  one  voice,  the  glance  of  an  eye,  the  birth  of  a  babe,  the 
bridal  of  a  relative,  every  scene  that  can  be  enacted  from  the 
infant's  cradle  to  the  old  man's  grave — the  wafture  of  a  finger, 


THE   TRAVELLERS   IN   THE    STORM.  21 

the  flight  of  a  feather,  or  the  fall  of  a  fan,  may  change,  from 
their  deepest  foundations,  all  our  settled  plans,  all  our  firmest 
purposes,  as  if  we  were  truly  what  the  ancient  heathens  deemed 
us,  but  mere  dice  in  the  iron  hand  of  Destiny,  to  be  played  at 
the  pre-appointed  hour,  in  accordance  with  the  evolutions  of  an 
unknown  and  irresistible  law  I 

But  no  such  serious  reflections  troubled  the  imagination  of 
William  Boiling.-  He  only  yearned  to  become  better  acquainted 
with  the  history  of  the  fair  creature  that  fortune  had  committed, 
for  the  time,  to  his  keeping.  At  last  they  emerged  from  the 
impenetrable  shadows  of  the  forest  into  a  space  more  free  from 
foliage,  and  the  glimmering  starlight  revealed  at  the  distance  of 
a  few  hundred  yards  before  them,  a  luminous  expanse  of  sky, 
indicating  the  vicinity  of  a  prairie. 

"  You  need  not  have  any  more  fear  of  the  robbers,  now,'7 
remarked  the  young  man,  with  inexpressible  tenderness. 
"  Where  do  you  reside  ?•*' 

"  My  father  lives  two  miles  beyond  Shelby ville,"  she  answered, 
in  a  whisper. 

"  At  the  large  block-house  on  the  hill  ?"  he  inquired,  in  the 
same  kind  tones. 

"  That  is  the  one." 

"  I  remember  having  observed  it,  on  my  visit  to  the  country, 
last  fall,  though  I  did  not  learn  the  name  of  the  owner,"  said 
Boiling. 

"  Colonel  Miles,"  replied  the  maiden,  to  this  indirect- question. 

"  And  what  does  the  colonel  call  his  beautiful  daughter  T9 

"  Mary." 

"Mary!  the  divine  name!"  murmured  the  youth,  fondly: 
"  the  sweetest  of  all  words,  ever  whispered  by  a  lover,  lisped  by 
the  lips  of  childhood,  or  sung  in  the  notes  of  song!  pardon  my 
enthusiasm;  it  was  the  first  sound  I  uttered  when  an  infant — 
the  name  of  my  dear  mother." 

"  Is  she  living  ?"  she  said,  with  a  stifled  sigh. 


22         BANGERS  AND  REGULATOKS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  In  heaven  !"  he  responded,  in  accents  of  painful  sadness. 

"  And  mine  is  the  same,"  sobbed  the  young  girl. 

"  Then,  you  have  a  still  warmer  claim  for  my  sympathy  and 
protection,  as  a  sister  orphan  of  the  heart,"  returned  Boiling,  in 
a  voice  of  touching  devotion.  After  a  few  minutes  of  silence, 
he  added,  with  evident  anxiety  :  "  I  shall  likely  become  a  citizen 
of  Shelby  County,  and  I  hope  that  we  shall  be  friends." 

"  I  trust  so,"  she  answered,  in  a  whisper  so  faint,  yet  magical, 
as  to  make  every  chord  in  his  bosom  vibrate  as  if  his  heart  itself 
had  been  thrilled  with  the  point  of  a  golden  arrow. 

Suddenly  the  hoarse  voice  of  «Caesar  was  heard  close  behind 
them  :  "  Massa  Boiling,  lend  me  one  of  yer  shooters  ;  thar's 
sumthen  comin  arter  us,  sure  !" 

"  Nonsense !"  exclaimed  the  master  ;  "  but  here,  take  it,  if 
you  wish  ;  and  he  handed  the  slave  a  revolver. 

Hardly  had  he  done  so,  when  the  shrill  blast  of  a  bugle  sounded 
in  their  rear,  and  so  unexpectedly,  and  with  such  wild,  war-like 
tones,  as  to  startle,  for  an  instant,  even  the  chivalrous  bravery 
of  young  Boiling. 

The  effect  on  the  frightened  virgin  was  appalling.  The  youth 
vainly  essayed  to  allay  her  terrors  with  suggestions,  which  his 
own  reason  failed  to  recognize.  "  They  cannot  be  bandits,"  he 
urged  ;  "  for  if  so,  they  would  not  blow  a  trumpet  to  put  us  on 
our  guard.  They  are,  probably,  wandering  hunters,  or  travellers, 
who  have  lost  their  way." 

"  No,  no,"  she  replied,  in  despairing  accents,  and  quivering  in 
every  nerve,  like  a  loose  leaf  in  the  whirlwind  :  "  that  was 
Comanche  Ben's  bugle  ;  I  would  know  it  among  a  hundred. 
Fly  instantly,  if  you  would  save  our  lives  1" 

u  If  we  perish,  we  will  die  together,"  he  returned  ;  for  to  his 
fevered  and  fiery  imagination,  there  was  a  sweet  drop  of  pleasure 
even  in  that  bitter  reflection. 

At  the  moment,  the  horse  pricked  up  his  sharp  ears,  and  gave 
a  loud,  hasty  snort,  as  if  he  scented  danger,  and  immediately 


THE   TRAVELLERS    IN   THE    STORM.  23 

afterwards,  the  figure  of  a  man  appeared  from  behind  the  trunk 
of  an  immense  oak,  and  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  path, 
saluted  them  in  tones  of  strange,  yet  sinister  melody.  "  Good 
evening,  sir.  Old  Boreas,  on  his  huge  guitar  of  thundering 
forests,  swept  a  grand  march  for  the  gods  to-day.  Did  you 
happen  to  hear  any  of  the  rich  music  ?" 

"  More  than  enough,"  answered  the  young  man,  wondering 
greatly  at  the  poetical  style  of  the  intruder. 

The  latter  continued  :  "  Do  you  travel  by  starlight  from 
choice  or  necessity,  or,  perhaps,  you  may  be  a  devotee  of  the 
divine  science,  astrology  ?" 

"  I  never  respond,  with  the  tongue,  to  impertinent  questions," 
said  the  other,  sternly  ;  "  will  you  please  to  get  out  of  the  way, 
and  let  us  pass  ?" 

"  What  !  there  are  two  of  you  ? "  replied  the  stranger,  in 
sneering  accents  ;  "  I  thought  as  much,  from  the  glimpse  of  a 
white  garment  on  your  horse's  flank  ;  and  so  I  inferred  that  you 
worship  at  the  altar  of  the  sweet  Paphian  divinity,  rather  than 
before  the  shrine  of  the  wiser  Muses  1" 

"  Move  out  of  the  path,  or  by  Heaven,  I  will  pistol  you  like 
a  dog  I"  cried  the  youth,  in  a  terrible  voice. 

"  That  would  only  prove  you  to  be  a  fool,"  said  the  stranger, 
"  for  half  a  dozen  of  my  best  forest  rangers  are  in  ambush,  not 
ten  paces  before  you,  while  as  many  more  are  stationed  in  the 
rear,  to  out  off  all  hopes  of  retreat  ;  and  as  discretion  is  allowed 
to  be  the  better  part  of  valor,  you  must,  of  necessity,  exhibit  your 
approval  of  the  maxim,  by  surrendering  unconditionally." 

"  Oh  1  God,  we  are  lost  !"  exclaimed  the  maiden,  in  an  agony 
of  terror. 

"  Is  that  you,  my  Madonna,  loveliest  of  all  the  Marys  ?v  cried 
the  robber,  in  mocking  tones,  as  if  recognizing  her  voice.  And 
then,  he  immediately  added  ;  "  I  have  a  proposition  to  offer,  by 
way  of  compromise,  Sir  Traveller.  Give  me  up  the  girl  and  your 
purse,  and  you  may  go  about  your  business." 


24        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  Hold  fast  now,  and  we  will  ride  over  him,  and  escape," 
whispered  the  young  man  in  the  ear  of  his  shuddering  companion  ; 
and,  applying  the  spurs  suddenly  to  the  sides  of  his  horse,  the 
spirited  animal  made  a  mighty  leap  forwards,  and  trampling 
down  the  bandit,  dashed  along  the  road  with  the  swiftness  of  an 
arrow.  The  action  was  so  unexpected,  and  the  velocity  so 
furious,  that  the  other  villains  in  ambuscade,  in  vain  endeavored 
to  intercept  their  flight.  Guns  flashed,  pistols  roared,  and  fierce 
cries  and  curses  rent  the  air,  as  if  troops  of  demons  were  fighting 
in  the  darkness  ;  but  neither  the  youth  or  maiden  received  any 
wound.  In  a  minute  they  gained  the  open  prairie,  and  were  not 
pursued. 

As  soon  as  they  found  themselves  safe  from  the  appalling 
peril,  the  young  girl  inquired,  anxiously  :  "Where  is  Caesar?" 

"  I  fear  that  we  shall  never  see  the  faithful  fellow,  again," 
lamented  his  master,  in  tones  of  deep  emotion.  "The  misfor 
tune  is  indeed  a  sad  one  to  me.  He  has  been  my  comrade, 
rather  than  servant,  from  the  cradle  ;  and  never  have  I  seen 
cause  to  question  either  his  affection  or  fidelity.  I  know  well 
that,  at  any  hour,  for  my  sake,  he  would  willingly  have  laid 
down  his  life,  as  he  doubtless  has  just  now  done." 

As  if  to  confirm  his  worst  apprehensions,  they  soon  heard  the 
clatter  of  galloping  hoofs,  and  the  white  mule  came  up  without 
its  rider. 

With  melancholy  hearts  they  continued  their  journey  to  the 
home  of  Mary's  father,  discoursing  in  musical  whispers  that 
thrilled  through  each  other's  souls.  Was  this  tender  feeling 
love,  at  first  sight  ?  Who  can  say  ?  But  one  thing  is  certain, 
it  must  have  been  so,  if  they  were  destined  ever  to  love  at  all  ; 
for  there  cannot  be  a  pure  passion  worthy  of  the  name,  which 
does  not  come  in  all  its  force,  like  the  lightning  of  heaven,  at 
the  flash  of  the  eyes  only,  and  all  divine. 

Who  waits  for  the  second  view,  or  the  rigid  criticism  of  cold, 
calculating  reason,  to  worship  the  boundless  beauty  of  stars  and 


THE   TRAVELLERS    IN   THE    STORM.  25 

rainbows,  the  opaline  lustres  on  the  wings  of  brilliant  birds,  the 
music  of  night  winds  among  the  pine-tops,  or  the  solemn  mur 
mur  of  the  sounding  sea  ?  For  love  follows  beauty,  as  light 
doth  the  sun. 


26  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 


CHAPTER  II. 

COLONEL   MILES — THE   MIDNIGHT  ALARM. 

WHEN  young  Boiling  and  the  Beauty  of  the  Forest  reached 
the  residence  of  her  father,  they  beheld  a  scene  of  the  greatest 
confusion,  which  had  been  caused  by  the  mysterious  absence  of 
the  fair  daughter.  Half  a  hundred  slaves,  armed  with  naming 
pine  torches,  were  flying  about  wildly,  piercing  the  darkness  in 
all  directions,  shouting  in  startled  tones,  "  Mary  !  Mary  !  oh  I 
dear  young  Missus  1"  with  countless  other  fond,  yet  frightened 
exclamations,  evincing  the  most  intense  grief  for  the  supposed 
loss  of  their  favorite. 

Their  almost  frantic  joy  at  her  reappearance  surpassed  even 
the  tumultuous  tokens  of  their  recent  terrors,  and  they  all 
gathered  around  her  with  loud  cries  of  delight,  the  women  and 
children  kissing  her  hands  and  the  very  hems  of  her  garments, 
asking,  at  the  same  time,  a  thousand  questions.  "  Whar  have 
you  been  ?  Wur  you  out  in  the  rain  ?  Did  f  git  lost  in  the 
woods  ?"  While  many  of  the  more  silent,  among  the  sable  sea 
of  eager  faces,  sobbed  and  wept,  as  if  the  beautiful  girl  had 
been  their  own  child.  For  there  is  no  burning  ardor  of  affec 
tionate  friendship  to  excel  that  which  the  black  servant  of  the 
South  feels  for  a  truly  kind  master  or  mistress. 

Mary,  however,  did  not  %  seem  disposed  to  gratify  the  natural 
curiosity  of  the  anxious  negroes,  by  giving  any  account  of  her 
late  perilous  adventures,  but  asked  distractedly  for  her  father. 


COLONEL   MILES THE    MIDNIGHT    ALARM.  27 

Upon  being  informed  that  the  Colonel  had  been  absent  since 
morning,  she  turned  to  the  young  traveller,  and  remarked  in 
disquieted  accents,  "  I  must  put  you  in  the  care  of  the  slaves, 
to-night.  Here,  Tony,  see  that  this  stranger  has  every,  possible 
attention.  I  was  indebted  to  him  for  my  life,  by  his  brave 
assistance  in  the  tornado.  Mr.  Boiling,  I  wish  you  a  pleasant 
sleep  and  happy  dreams."  And  with  a  smile,  pale,  but  sweet  as 
the  radiance  of  starlight,  she  glided  out  of  the  room  ;  and  the 
youth  felt  as  if  some  celestial  lustre  had  suddenly  left  the  now 
darkened  air,  but  the  music  of  her  soft,  singing  tones  still  rung 
in  his  soul  j  for  she  possessed  one  of  those  rich,  rare  voices, 
whose  echoes,  like  the  bewildering  cadence  of  a  strange,  wild 
tune,  linger  in  the  ear,  and  haunt  the  enraptured  recesses  of  the 
listener's  brain,  long  after  the  words  have  ceased  to  warble  on 
the  speaker's  lips. 

Boiling  was  so  absorbed  in  this  new,  nameless  melody,  that 
he  did  not  notice,  until  after  three  repetitions,  the  obsequious 
question  of  the  black  waiter,  "  Will  mas'r  have  something  to  eat  ?" 

"Yes,"  replied  the  traveller,  abstractedly. 

"  Here,  Dinah,"  ordered  Tony,  with"  a  look  9f  pompous  com 
mand,  "  run  y'  nigger,  and  git  this  gen'man's  supper,  quick. 
Gin  him  the  fust  chop,  do  y'  hear  ?  And  you,  Sam  Snowball, 
don't  stand  thar  turnin'  up  the  whites  of  yer  eyes,  like  a  dyin' 
duck  ;  put  up  his  boss,  and  stuff  7im  chock  full  of  con  and  fod 
der.  Stir  yer  stumps,  like  a  hog  on  ice." 

The  traveller  now  directed  his  attention  to  the  huge  form  and 
ebon  face  before  him,  but  experienced  little  satisfaction  in  the 
survey.  Those  great  eyes  gleamed  with  an  aspect  of  mingled 
cunning  and  ferocity,  while  the  simulated,  deceitful  smile,  on  the 
coarse,  animal  features,  reminded  one  of  the  nursery  myths 
about  grinning  fiends  and  hobgoblins,  and  more  especially  of 
Congo  and  cannibals. 

With  a  low  bow  of  ludicrous  courtesy,  Tony  inquired,  "  I  ax 
yer  pardon,  mas'r,  but,  wur  y'  out  in  the  harracane  to-day  ?" 


28  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  brief  and  somewhat  stern  response. 

"  And  where  mout  y'  cotch  young  missus  ?" 

"  I  met  with  her  by  accident  during  the  storm  ;  and  it  is 
singular  how  she  happened  to  be  in  such  a  wilderness,  remote 
from  a  human  dwelling/5  said  the  young  man,  hoping  to  extract 
a  little  light  out  of  so  dark  a  subject,  for  the  complexion  of  the 
negro  seemed  so  supremely  black,  that  the  very  sight  of  it 
might  have  been  supposed  enough  to  extinguish  a  candle. 

But  Tony  eluded  the  force  of  the  suggestion,  replying,  quite 
innocently,  "  I  knows  nuthen'  about  it  ;  but,  mas'r,  did  y'  see 
any  robbers  ?" 

"  Do  you  have  such  dangerous  people  in  these  parts  ?"  in 
quired  Boiling,  watching  earnestly  the  countenance  of  the  slave. 

"Oh,  Lordy  !  plenty  of  'em,'7  affirmed  Tony,  with  an  aspect 
of  real,  or  well-feigned  horror  ;  "  and  lots  of  Boboiitioners,  too. 
They  make  the  darkies  run  off  like  wild  hogs." 

Aunt  Dinah  soon  brought  in  a  luxurious  meal,  and  this  being 
dispatched,  the  traveller,  accompanied  by  his  waiter,  with  candle 
in  hand,  went  to  the  sleeping  apartment,  on  the  same  floor  as 
the  parlor. 

Here,  as  Boiling  was  undressing,  the  sable  gossip  lingered,  and 
ventured  a  final  assault.  "  Mas'r,  don't  you  think  young  missus 
Mary  is  a  very  nice  gal  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  returned  the  youth,  in  impatient  accents,  but 
with  a  blushing  face. 

"  I  know  of  a  pusson  who  lubs  her  to  kill  !'7  said  Tony,  with 
a  mysterious  air. 

The  traveller  suddenly  felt  his  heart  beat  like  the  roll  of  a 
drum  in  battle,  but  he  asked  calmly,  "  Does  the  happy  lover,  of 
whom  you  speak,  succeed  in  his  courtship  with  the  fair  girl  ?" 

"  I  can't  say  as  to  that,  mas'r  ;  but  I  spec  as  how  he'll  hev 
her,  any  how,"  remarked  the  black,  with  a  strange  gleam  on  his 
repulsive  visage.  "  Jemany  I"  he  cried,  as  Boiling  deposited  his 
weapons  on  a  stand  beside  the  bed  ;  "  What  magnifyin'  pistols  I 


COLONEL   MILES THE    MIDNIGHT    ALARM.  29 

Aint  them  darlins'  !  A  feller  wouldn't  laugh  what  was  shot 
with  sich  fixins  !  I  swow,  they're  most  as  fine  as  the  Captain's  !" 

The  young  man  glanced  at  the  countenance  of  the  negro, 
at  the  moment  when  this  warm  eulogy  was  uttered,  and  thought 
that  he  had  never  before  witnessed  so  sinister  a  physiognomy. 
The  twinkle  in  his  white  eyes  looked  even  murderous. 

Here  Tony  approached  him  with  a  certain  cunning  smile,  and 
interrogated  in  a  sort  of  confidential  whisper,  "Mas'r,  am  y' 
one  of  the  speckelaters  what  'em  calls  Forest  Rangers?" 

"No,"  answered  the  youth  in  astonishment. 

"  Then  why  do  y'  take  so  many  tools?"  demanded  the  negro, 
with  saucy  impertinence  ;  and  wheeling  round  he  left  the  room, 
muttering  as  he  went,  "He's  not  one  of  'em,  that's  a  fac'  ;  but 
he  'sembles  the  Captain,  and  he  has  a  hoss-load  of'shootm' 
irons  1" 

The  traveller  immediately  blew  out  his  candle,  and  threw  him 
self  upon  his  couch  ;  but  the  sweet  seraph  of  sleep  touched  not 
his  eyelids  with  the  dew-dropping  finger  that  baptises  the  soul 
with  Lethean  waters,  or  brings  golden  dreams.  The  events  of  the 
past  day  all  came  back  in  vivid  scenes,  marching  before  his  mind 
like  the  figures  of  a  shifting  panorama,  as  manifest  to  his  imagina 
tion  as  they  had  been  to  his  bodily  senses.  Again,  he  listened 
to  the  roar  of  the  hurricane  ;  he  saw  the  falling  forest,  wrapped 
in  sheets  of  amethystine  flame,  and  fled  for  life,  with  the  faith 
ful  Caesar  by  his  side.  Again,  he  held  the  angel  of  beauty  in 
his  arms,  and  felt  her  perfumed  breath  upon  his  cheek.  And 
then,  once  more,  he  heard  the  blast  of  the  bandit's  bugle,  the 
firing  of  guns,  the  wild  shouts  of  infuriate  men,  and  made  his 
escape  from  the  dreadful  danger,  with  that  one  face  shining 
brighter  than  the  starlight  so  near  to  his  own. 

After  a  time,  however,  his  thoughts  assumed  a  more  practical 
tendency.  He  reflected,  with  painful  emotions,  on  the  singu 
larity  of  the  circumstances,  under  which  he  met  the  beautiful 
Mary,  and  a  horrible  doubt  darkened  the  divinity,  before  which 


30        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

his  spirit  had  so  nearly  bowed  down  to  worship.  How  happened 
she  to  be  there,  so  far  from  the  settlement,  and  alone  in  the  wil 
derness  ?  She  recognized  even  the  tones  of  the  robbers'  trum 
pet,  and  the  leader  of  the  band  also  knew  her.  She  had  avoided 
any  explanation  as-  to  the  particulars  of  her  misfortune  among 
the  outlaws  ;  she  had  refused  even  to  answer  the  questions  of 
the  sympathising  slaves,  or  so  much  as  to  intimate  that  she  had 
been  menaced  with  peril  other  than  from  the  tornado.  And 
then,  as  the  statement  of  Tony  occurred  to  his  recollection,  that 
she  was  ardently  beloved  by  some  one,  he  inferred  the  foolish 
non  sequitur,  that  she  probably  reciprocated  the  passion,  and  he 
resolved  to  think  no  more  about  her. 

In  this  manner  the  tedious  hours  rolled  slowly  away  until  long 
after  midnight,  when  suddenly  his  quick  ear  detected  the  mur 
mur  of  voices  near  the  window,  and  rising  softly,  he  parted  the 
curtains,  and  glanced  out  through  the  panes  of  glass  into  the 
darkness.  He  perceived  two  men  standing  on  the  ground  out 
side,  one  of  medial  height,  and  the  other  unusually  tall,  his  head 
reaching  the  sill,  which  was  more  than  six  feet  from  the  earth. 

The  youth  stooped  down,  and  was  enabled  to  catch  some, 
fragmentary  sentences  of  their  whispered  conversation. 

"  I  wonder  what  can  keep  Bill  and  Comanche  Ben  so  long," 
said  one,  impatiently. 

"The  devil,  their  master,  only  knows,"  replied  the  other; 
"  but  we  need  not  wait  for  them.  Let  us  do  the  business  our 
selves." 

"  Impossible  !"  answered  the  first  ;  "  for,  ten  to  one,  the 
traveller  came  home  with  the  girl,  and  he  would  fight  for  her 
like  a  wildcat,  and  arouse  all  the  buck  niggers  on  the  plantation. 
It  won't  do,  Captain  ;  we  must  have  more  help." 

"I  tell  you,  Jack,"  said  the  latter,  with  an  oath,  "we  must 
get  Mary  away  to-night,  or  she  will  tell  everything,  and  we 
shall  have  another  lynching  scrape,  worse  than  the  last  one  in 
Missouri." 


COLONEL    MILES THE    MIDNIGHT    ALARM.  31 

"  You  are  afraid  also,  that  she  will  find  a  fresh  lover  in  the 
handsome  stranger,"  suggested  his  companion,  with  a  half- 
suppressed  titter. 

"  Cease  your  silly  jesting,"  commanded  the  other  ;  "  she  shall 
be  in  my  embrace  before  daylight,  or  sleep  in  the  skeleton  arms 
of  death  !  You  must  remember  that  the  Colonel  will  be  back 
in  the  morning,  and  would  surely  file  a  strong  bill  of  exceptions 
against  our  kind  claims  to  his  daughter." 

At  the  moment,  a  slight  whistle  was  heard,  and  a  huge  form 
approached  the  robbers,  and  speaking  to  them  in  a  faint  whis 
per,  they  all  disappeared  around  the  corner  of  the  house.  Al 
though  the  sky  was  much  obscured  bypassing  clouds,  the  young 
man  thought  that  the  third  person,  whose  advent  in  the  scene 
had  caused  the  actors  to  change  their  place  so  quickly,  could  be 
no  other  than  the  loquacious  Tony  ;  and  believing  that  they  had 
gone  to  the  sleeping  room  of  their  virgin  victim,  he  instantly 
took  his  resolution.  Having  already  put  on  his  clothing,  when 
he  ascertained  the  infernal  purpose  of  the  villains,  he  now  filled 
his  pockets  with  pistols,  relumed  his  candle,  and  rushing  into  the 
hall,  rung  the  bell  furiously. 

In  a  minute  afterwards,  the  adjacent  cabins  of  the  Africans 
resounded  with  noise  and  confusion,  and  dusky  visages  swarmed 
into  the  house  in  great  excitement  and  fear.  The  traveller 
related  briefly  what  he  had  overheard,  and  ordered  an  immediate 
search  for  the  bandits,  leading  the  pursuit  himself.  But  the 
reverberating  echoes  of  flying  hoofs  from  the  bridge  above  the 
neighboring  stream,  at  the  distance  of  some  hundred  yards,  pro 
claimed  that  the  ruffians  had  taken  the  alarm,  and  effected  their 
successful  retreat. 

On  returning  to  the  parlor,  the  young  man  was  pained  to  a 
degree  that  he  could  not  comprehend  himself,  with  the  appear 
ance  and  conduct  of  the  maiden,  whom  the  previous  peril  most 
nearly  concerned.  Her  features  were  exceedingly  pale,  but  her 


32  RANGERS    AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA.  ^ 

dark  eyes  remained  fixed  upon  the  floor,  and  she  asked  no  ques 
tions. 

Breaking  the  oppressive  silence,  the  youth  remarked,  with 
agitation,  "  The  boldness  of  these  bandits  is  unaccountable.  It 
almost  staggers  belief." 

"  Yes,"  murmured  Mary,  "  Dinah  has  told  me  what  you  heard; 
but  did  they  say  anything  about  me  ?" 

"  Only,  that  they  intended  to  carry  you  off,  or  murder 
you." 

"Was  that  all  ?"  she  gasped,  with  a  countenance  of  terror. 

"  That  was  all,"  answered  the  youth,  keeping  back  half  the 
tale  of  horrors  from  motives  of  delicacy. 

The  response  seemed  to  relieve  her  soul  from  the  spectre  of 
some  appalling  thought,  and  actuated  by  a  sudden  and  uncon 
trollable  impulse,  she  sprung  forwards,  and  grasping  the  trav 
eller's  .hand,  exclaimed  in  tones  of  the  deepest  feeling,  "  You 
have  delivered  me  twice  from  a  doom  more  dreadful  than  the 
tortures  of  the  most  cruel  death.  Oh,  tell  me  how  I  shall  ever 
thank  you  enough  1" 

His  doubts  all  fled  away  before  the  celestial  music  of  that 
bewitching  voice,  more  divinely  sweet,  more  pure,  more  spirit 
ual,  than  the  wildest  wind-notes  of  the  jEolian  harp,  when 
heaven's  own  breath  plays  among  its  strings  beneath  the  pale 
lustre  of  the  evening  star. 

The  fascinated  youth,  with  difficulty  repressing  the  warmer 
words  that  burned  for  utterance  on  his  tremulous  lips,  replied, 
with  almost  passionate  fondness,  "  The  gratitude  of  one  so  good 
and  beautiful  repays  me  ten  thousand  times  for  any  little  service 
which  I  have  rendered  you,  and  deserves  even  the  devotion  of  a 
life." 

At  the  instant,  she  dropped  his  fingers  from  hers,  and  uttered 
a  startled  cry,  "  My  father  !" 

The  young  man  glanced  towards  the  door,  and  beheld  a  tall, 


COLONEL   MILES — THE   MIDNIGHT   ALARM.  33 

dark-featured  man,  gazing  upon  them  with  a  surprised,  yet  stern 
and  menacing  look.  ~ 

Mary  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  bounded  to  the  parental 
bosom,  crying,  "  Father,  this  stranger  saved  my  life  to-day  in 
the  storm." 

"  And  how  did  you  chance  to  be  out  in  the  storm  ?"  said  the 
Colonel,  incredulously. 

"  I  started  in  the  morning  for  a  walk  to  Shelby ville,  but  was 
assaulted  by  the  robbers,  when  about  half  the  way.  They  car 
ried  me  off  many  miles  into  the  forest,  when  the  tempest  over 
took  us,  and  amidst  their  fear  and  confusion  I  made  my  escape  ; 
yet  I  should  have  been  captured  again,  but  for  the  protection 
and  bravery  of  this  generous  young  man." 

"  How  long  did  it  take  you  to  manufacture  this  romance  ?" 
asked  the  father,  with  a  bitter  sneer  ;  "  or  perhaps  you  had  able 
assistance,"  he  added,  with  a  disdainful  gesture  at  the  stranger. 

The  latter  responded  warmly,  "  I  can  vouch  for  the  truth  of 
the  most  important  facts  of  the  story.  We  were  attacked  by 
the  bandits,  and  I  lost  a  valuable  servant  in  the  rencounter,  and 
what  is  stranger  still,  two  members,  as  I  believe,  of  the  same 
gang,  have  been  here  to-night,  at  this  very  house,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  doing  a  deadly  injury  to  your  daughter,  which  I  was 
fortunately  enabled  to  prevent,  from  overhearing  their  whispered 
conversation  beneath  my  window." 

The  Colonel's  face  lost  its  color,  and  he  replied,  with  a  quiver 
ing  voice,  "  Pardon  my  unjust  suspicions,  and  accept  my  grate 
ful  acknowledgments  for  your  brave  and  generous  conduct  in 
the  rescue  of  my  only  child." 

"  But  oh,  father,"  said  Mary,  shuddering  at  the  mere  recol 
lection,  "  you  could  never  imagine  who  the  robbers  were." 

"  What  1  did  you  know  them  ?"  gasped  the  Colonel,  reeling 
as  if  he  had  been  stunned  by  a  thunder-bolt. 

"  Alas  I  but  too  well,"  affirmed  the  pale,  shuddering  girl, 
"  One  of  them  was  Captain  " 


34  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

"  Not  another  word  !  not  for  your  life  !"  shouted  her  father, 
grasping  her  arm  with  a  force  that  caused  an  involuntary  cry  of 
pain,  He  then  hastily  turned  to  Boiling,  remarking  in  hollow 
tones,  "  Young  man,  as  your  rest  has  been  so  badly  broken,  you 
had  better  retire  again  to  your  bed,  and  get  some  sleep." 

As  soon  as  the  youth  had  left  the  parlor,  Colonel  Miles  asked 
in  low  whispers,  as  if  he  feared  that  the  very  walls  might  over 
hear  and  report  the  awful  secret,  "  Mary,  who  were  the  ruffians?" 

She  repeated  two  names,  the  sound  of  which  sent  every  drop 
of  blood  from  her  father's  face  back  in  frozen  currents  upon  his 
heart,  as  he  inquired,  "  What  happened  ? — tell  me  all  ;  but 
speak  softly,  my  dear  child,  you  dream  not  how  terrible  is  the 
danger." 

"  I  had  reached  the  thicket  in  the  Tanaha  bottom,"  said  the 
daughter,  "  when  I  turned  aside  to  cull  some  beautiful  crimson 
flowers,  that  I  saw  gleaming  through  the  wild  vines.  At  the 
moment,  the  two  came  up  from  opposite  directions,  and  saluting 
each  other,  halted  and  engaged  in  conversation.  I  was  so 
entirely  concealed  by  the  leafy  bushes  that  they  did  not  perceive 
me  ;  and  not  wishing  to  play  the  eavesdropper,  which  I  could 
not  avoid  doing  while  in  such  a  position,  I  had  resolved  to 
emerge  from  the  tangled  foliage  into  the  road,  and  address  them, 
when  the  appalling  character  of  their  discourse  arrested  my 
steps,  and  as  it  were  rooted  my  feet  to  the  spot.  It  causes  the 
very  blood  in  my  veins  to  run  cold,  when  I  recall  the  horrible 
revelations  of  their  villainy.  They  spoke  of  robbery,  theft  and 
murder  as  the  common  pursuit  and  pastime  of  their  lives. 
They  avowed  their  purpose  to  seduce  half  the  slaves  in  the  coun 
try  from  their  masters,  under  promises  of  freedom,  and  then  to 
run  them  off  to  Louisiana,  and  sell  them  for  their  own  gain. 
They  boasted  of  the  numbers  that  belonged  to  their  band,  and 
specified  several  men  of  influence  as  among  them." 

"  Mary,  did  they  mention  me  in  any  manner  ?  Say,  for  God's 
sake,  did  they  name  me  ?"  inquired  the  Colonel,  pale  as  a  corpse. 


COLONEL   MILES THE   MIDNIGHT  ALARM.  35 

"No,v  said  the  maiden  ;  "but  they  spoke  of  me  in  such  a 
way  that  I  could  not  wholly  suppress  an  involuntary  cry  of  hor 
ror.  Instantly  the  Captain  darted  through  the  foliage,  and 
seizing  me  by  the  arm,  dragged  me  still  farther  into  the  woods, 
while  his  comrade  followed,  leading  their  horses.  All  my  prayers 
and  entreaties  were  unavailing.  They  said  that  I  had  become 
acquainted  with  their  plans,  and  that  they  must  therefore  make 
sure  of  my  secrecy.  They  conducted  me  to  their  camp,  and 
were  discussing  the  question  as  to  their  action  towards  me, 
whether  they  should  send  me  to  their  great  council-ground,  as 
they  called  it,  in  the  Red  River  swamp,  or  murder  me  at  once, 
when  the  hurricane  began  to  howl  in  the  forest,  and  the  trees 
cracked  like  hail-stones  on  a  skylight.  It  looked  like  the  end  of 
the  world.  They  were  too  much  terrified  to  notice  me,  and  I 
escaped." 

"Have  you  related  the  facts  to  the  young  traveller?"  inter 
rogated  the  Colonel,  anxiously. 

"  No  ;  I  only  told  him  my  fear  of  the  robbers  when  we  first 
met." 

"  Did  you  mention  their  names  ?" 

"  I  did  not." 

"  Did  you  inform  any  of  the  negroes  ?" 

"  I  have  not  done  so  as  yet." 

Her  father  reflected  a  minute,  and  said,  with  the  pale  shadow 
of  a  simulated  smile  on  his  dark  features,  "  Mary,  the  whole 
thing  was  a  sheer  joke,  conversation  and  all,  to  frighten  you  ; 
for  they  are  both  men  of  the  highest  honor,  although  a  little 
wild,  and  too  fond  of  such  practical  jests." 

The  astounded  daughter  gazed  on  his  visage  with  a  look  of 
utter  bewilderment,  as  if  unable  to  credit  the  evidence  of  her 
own  ears,  or  deeming  the  speaker  distracted. 

"  Do  you  not  think  my  explanation  plausible  ?"  he  asked,  scru 
tinizing  her  countenance. 

"  What  1"  she  cried,  with  sudden,  and  almost  angry  anima- 


36        BANNERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

tion,  "  did  the  villains  gag  me  for  mere  fun  ?  Was  the  roar  of 
firearms,  was  the  hissing  hail  of  bullets,  the  natural  result  oi  a 
childish  frolic  ?  Did  the  murderous  wretches  slay  or  steal  the 
stranger's  servant  for  the  sake  of  the  wild  sport  ?  Father,  I  am 
as  much  surprised  as  grieved  to  witness  your  indifference  when 
you  spoke,  but  an  instant  ago,  of  danger  the  most  deadly." 

"  Well,  Mary,  at  all  events,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  we 
should  keep  the  matter  a  close  secret,"  responded  the  Colonel, 
in  a  voice  and  with  an  aspect  of  unutterable  fear. 

"  And  why  so  ?"  she  hastily  inquired,  with  flashing  eyes. 
"If  we  cover  up  such  deeds,  do  we  not  become  accomplices  in 
their  guilt  ?  Oh,  my  dear  father,  for  once,  take  your  loving 
child's  advice.  Denounce  the  red-handed  murderers,  and  drag 
them  to  the  bar  of  avenging  justice.  My  testimony  alone,  and 
I  will  rejoice  to  give  it,  will  be  sufficient  to  hang  them." 

The  Colonel  paced  the  floor  in  terrible  agitation.  At  length 
he  faltered,  "  Mary,  I  approve  your  feelings,  but  we  must  not 
act  as  you  desire — nay,  hear  me  out — we  dare  not.  The  rogues 
in  this  country  are  really  in  the  majority,  and  even  command  the 
most  important  offices,  including  those  of  judges  and  sheriffs. 
They  have  witnesses  to  swear  away  any  man's  life  that  they  wish 
out  of  their  path,  and  when  offended,  they  do  not  hesitate  to 
shoot  down  their  enemies,  wherever  they  may  find  them — by 
the  fire-side,  in  the  field,  at  the  wedding,  at  the  funeral,  in  the 
church,  or  even  in  the  court-house,  anywhere  and  everywhere, 
without  scruple,  or  mercy,  or  the  dread  of  punishment.  No, 
Mary,  we  must  not  betray  by  any,  the  least  word  or  sign,  the 
consciousness  of  this  foul  outrage.  We  must  be  in  all  respects 
precisely  as  we  were  before  it  occurred." 

"In  all  respects?"  questioned  the  young  girl,  in  tones  of 
frightful  agony. 

"  We  must,  or  perish  !" 

"  Must  I  still  endure  the  disgusting  attentions  of  this  murder 
ous  monster,  the  hateful  captain,  whom  I  always  detested  ?" 


COLONEL   MILES — THE   MIDNIGHT   ALARM.  31 

"  There  is  no  help  for  it." 

"  Father,  I  would  rather  die  !"  exclaimed  Mary,  reeling  sud 
denly,  as  if  shocked  beyond  endurance. 

"  What  do  you  say,  girl  ?"  yelled  the  Colonel,  griping  her 
arm  till  he  nearly  fractured  the  bone,  while  his  features  writhed 
in  hideous  distortions  ;  "  would  you  kill  me  ?  I  tell  you  that 
my  property,  my  reputation,  my  life — all,  all  are  in  that  man's 
power.  It  matters  not  how.  He  is  the  master,  and  I  the  slave. 
Will  you  save  me  by  a  little  courtesy,  or  murder  me  by  your 
cruel  pride  T' 

11 1  will  do  as  you  direct,"  murmured  Mary,  in  a  hoarse  whis 
per  ;  "  anything,  everything  but  give  my  person  to  the  polluting 
bridal  with  a  devil  1  That  I  will  never  do  ;  no,  not  for  the  sal 
vation  of  the  whole  world." 

"  I  shall  not  demand  it,  my  child,"  said  the  father,  weeping 
tears  of  agony.  "  Only  let  me  have  a  brief  space,  a  few 
months,  to  mature  my  plans,  to  get  my  hand  out  of  the  infernal 
wild  beast's  mouth,  and  I  will  find  the  means  of  settling  all 
accounts  in  one  bloody  payment." 

He  pronounced  the  last  sentence  in  a  voice  that  made  the 
very  marrow  creep  in  his  daughter's  bones.  She  had  never 
before  seen  the  face  of  her  father  look  like  that  of  a  demon.  What 
could  it  all  mean  ?  What  was  this  strange,  diabolical  mystery, 
which  seemed  to  demand  the  sacrifice  of  a  child  so  fair  t 


CHAPTER  III. 

MAJOR   MORROW   AND   SOL  TUTTLE — CAPTAIN   CARLYLE. 

WHEN  William  Boiling  arose  the  next  morning,  after  a  brief 
and  troubled  slumber,  he  found  breakfast  already  prepared  on 
the  table  ;  for  the  people  of  the  backwoods,  like  the  birds  and 
beasts  of  their  own  dewy  forests,  are  early  risers.  The  Colonel 
saluted  his  guest  with  a  show  of  much  cordiality,  but  his  man 
ner  evinced  uneasiness  and  apprehension,  notwithstanding  all  his 
efforts  to  be  pleasing.  At  first,  the  young  man  scarcely  observed 
the  singular  embarrassment  of  his  host,  his  attention  being  occu 
pied  by  the  appearance  of  the  fair  daughter.  She  had  greeted 
him  with  a  distant  bow,  as  if  he  had  been  a  mere  stranger.  Her 
lovely  features  were  pale,  and  her  dark  eyes  dim,  from  the  traces 
of  recent  tears.  Even  her  slight,  snowy  fingers  quivered  ner 
vously,  rendering  her  task  difficult  to  fill  their  cups  with  the 
steaming,  fragrant  coffee. 

By  way  of  apology  for  her  too  obvious  agitation,  the  Colonel 
remarked,  "We  must  excuse  Mary's  awkwardness  this  morning; 
she  has  not  yet  recovered  from  the  effects  of  yesterday's  adven 
ture." 

"  It  is  no  wonder  that  the  recollection  should  be  profound,  as 
well  as  painful,"  said  Boiling,  thoughtfully. 

"  Such  occurrences  are  so  common  in  this  country  that  they 
have  almost  ceased  to  excite  surprise,"  returned  the  other,  indif 
ferently. 

"It  must  be  a  strange  state  of  society — nearly  as  bad  as  the 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND    SOL.    TUTTLE — CAPTAIN    CARLYLE.        39 

lawless  condition  of  savage  life,"  answered  the  youth.  "  I  regret 
it  the  more,  as  I  had  intended  to  make  this  section  of  the  repub 
lic  my  future  home."  Mary  raised  her  eyes  with  a  quick  glance 
of  mingled  pleasure  and  curiosity. 

"Did  you  purpose  opening  a  plantation?"  interrupted  Colonel 
Miles. 

"  Such  was  my  plan,"  replied  Boiling  ;  and  then,  hesitating 
an  instant  between  the  prudence  which  forbade  him  to  be  over 
communicative  and  his  desire  to  effect  a  favorable  impression  in 
the  mind  of  the  charming  daughter,  the  latter  motive  prepon 
derated,  and  he  added,  "  my  business  in  Texas  is  rather  that  of 
an  agent  than  of  a  principal.  My  father  and  uncle  have 
deputed  me  to  select  and  purchase  a  large  quantity  of  lands, 
with  a  view  to  their  own  actual  settlement,  as  well  as  subsequent 
speculation  in  sales." 

"  A  most  perilous  enterprise,  truly,"  exclaimed  the  Colonel, 
seriously. 

"  I  should  think  any  sort  of  enterprise  perilous,  after  the 
scenes  I  have  witnessed,"  answered  the  young  man ;  "  the  rights 
of  property  might  be  as  safe  among  the  Camanches." 

"  You  mistake  my  meaning,"  replied  the  other ;  "I  do  not 
allude  to  the  impotency  of  legal  restraint,  or  to  the  absence  of 
civil  protection  for  our  security,  nor  yet  to  the  social  anarchy 
which  prevails  in  the  community.  I  refer  to  the  deadly  preju 
dice  of  the  people  against  speculators  in  land.  Most  of  the 
squatters  would  rather  shoot  one  of  that  odious  class  than 
butcher  the  wildest  wolf.  So  if  you  have  any  regard  for  your 
personal  welfare,  or  even  for  your  life,  you  will  relinquish  all 
such  dangerous  designs." 

Netled  somewhat  by  the  language  and  tone  of  this  gratuitous 
advice,  Boiling  retorted  haughtily,  "  I  am  not  accustomed  to 
change  my  schemes,  either  from  the  fear  of  individual  men  or  of 
mobs."  * 

"That  is  a  proper  spirit,  and^perfectly  natural  in  the  ardent 


40        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

season  of  reckless  youth,  and  especially  as  you  are  yet  unac 
quainted  with  the  country  ;  but  one  year's  experience  in  the 
tumults  of  Texas  will  not  fail  to  teach  you,  that  where  inobs  are 
too  powerful  for  the  law,  they  must  always  vanquish  the  bravest 
private  citizen.'-' 

"  Yes  ;  but  the  cause  of  order  ever  triumphs  in  the  end,  and 
if  it  has  its  victims  and  martyrs,  it  can  boast  of  its  heroes  also," 
said  the  young  man,  his  face  beaming  with  enthusiasm. 

"  That  time  will  doubtless  come  in  this  purple  land,  at  last ; 
but  I  am  afraid  it  is  far  distant,  and  before  the  day  arrives  many 
a  noble  heart  must  pour  out  its 'blood  like  rain,"  remarked  the 
Colonel,  mournfully. 

From  the  tenor  of  his  host's  conversation,  Boiling  concluded, 
perhaps  too  hastily,  that  the  other,  for  some  unimaginable  reason, 
did  not  wish  him  to  locate  in  the  country,  and  he  addressed 
a  question,  by  way  of  proving  the  truth  of  this  inference  :  "  Is 
there  no  other  part  of  the  republic  free  from  the  objections 
which  you  have  urged  so  forcibly  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,';  answered  the  Colonel,  apparently  much  relieved 
by  the  idea  ;  "  there  are  large  tracts  farther  west,  nearly  desti 
tute  of  population,  and  which  may  be  bought  for  a  mere  song." 

"  And  which  are  annually  visited  by  Comanches,"  suggested 
Mary,  timidly.  The  father  gave  her  a  stealthy,  but  stern  glance 
of  reproof,  which  sent  her  eyes  to  the  floor. 

"  Your  observations  strike  me  as  being  important,"  remarked 
the  yotfng  man,  "  but  I  must  see  more  of  the  country  and  its 
inhabitants  before  I  can  determine  on  my  course." 

"  Remain  with  us  to-day,"  said  Colonel  Miles,  "  and  you  will 
have  an  opportunity  of  becoming  better  acquainted  with  our 
citizens.  Everybody  will  be  here  to  witness  the  grand  shooting- 
match."  The  words  were  kind  enough,  but  there  seemed  to  be 
no  warm  welcome  in  the  tones  or  countenance  of  the  speaker, 
and  Boiling's  lofty  pride  prompted  a  brief  refusal,  when  he  caught 
an  anxious,  blushing  look  on  Mary's  .beautiful  face,  which 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND    SOL.   TUTTLE— CAPTAIN   CARLYLE.  4l 

checked  the  cold  response  of  denial,  and  he  answered  in  an 
indifferent  voice, 

"  I  thank  you,  Colonel ;  I  will  accept  your  courteous  offer  of 
hospitality.  I  must  stay  "in  the  neighborhood  a  few  days,  and 
perhaps  I  may  obtain  tidings  of  my  lost  servant." 

"  Make  my  house  your  home,"  said  the  other,  with  the  same 
icy  air  ;  and  then  he  added,  coloring  to  the  temples,  as  if  ashamed 
of  what  he  was  about  to  say,  "  I  have  one  request  to  make,  on 
your  own  account,  as  well  as  my  own,  that  you  will  say  nothing 
in  relation  to  the  unfortunate  events  of  yesterday  and  last  night. 
You  cannot  conceive,  nor  can  I  explain,  the  terrible  conse 
quences  to  me  and  to  my  daughter,  which  would  follow  from  the 
public  agitation  of  the  subject.  In  the  mean  time,  I  will  assume 
the  task  of  discovering  your  slave,  if  he  be  alive." 

It  would  be  impossible  to  paint  the  astonishment  expressed  by 
the  young  man's  features,  on  hearing  this  proposition,  but  he 
noticed  the  imploring  glance  of  Mary's  dark  eyes,  and  promised 
as  the  Colonel  desired. 

They  had  hardly  ended  their  morning  repast  when  the  people 
began  to  gather  for  the  shooting-match,  and  its  incidental  past 
imes.  The  assemblage  was  of  the  most  wonderful  and  miscel 
laneous  description.  No  human  hand  could  approach  a  correct 
delineation  of  the  different  characters — no,  not  even  the  coarse 
pen  of  Sterne,  or  the  comic  pencil  of  Hogarth.  There  were 
mingled  in  one  immense  motley  crowd,  both  sexes,  all  ages, 
sizes,  colors,  classes, — hunters,  herdsmen,  gamblers,  merchants, 
mechanics,  planters,  preachers,  robbers,  assassins,  and  honest 
men, — poverty,  independence,  and  the  proudest  wealth.  There 
might  be  seen  in  close  proximity,  fops,  fluttering  in  gay  plumage, 
and  sun-burnt  forms  clothed  in  leather  and  crowned  with  coon- 
skin  caps  ;  bright  belles,  rustling  in  robes  of  silk,  and  flash 
ing  with  the  gleam  of  golden  ornaments,  and  modest  maidens 
in  rude,  homespun  raiment,  the  fabric  of  their  own  looms — all 
enjoying  the  common  holiday,  and  associating  on  equal  terms, 


454  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF  THE   TANAHA. 

as  if  the  ideal  perfection  of  Democracy,  so  long  doubted  as  a 
political  myth,  had  been  at  last  realized. 

On  such  occasions,  a  stranger,  with  any  prestige  of  either  fame 
or  appearance,  is  always  an  object  of  universal  attention  on  the 
frontier  ;  and  accordingly,  William  Boiling  soon  found  himself, 
much  to  his  vexation  and  annoyance,  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes,  a 
star,  a  lion  of  the  first  magnitude,  with  the  masses.  The  inter 
est  was  exaggerated,  in  his  case,  by  some  faint  rumors  of  his 
recent  encounter  with  the  bandits.  For  ^though  Colonel  Miles 
had  sworn  the  Africans  to  the  strictest  secrecy  on  the  subject, 
they  could  not  help  whispering  all  the  items  within  their  keeping 
to  others,  under  a  similar  injunction  of  inviolable  silence.  And 
hence,  every  person  to  whom  he  was  introduced  by  his  host,  and 
many  who  forced  their  acquaintance  upon  him,  without  formality, 
cross-examined  him  critically  as  to  the  adventure  in  quqsiion. 
He,  however,  evaded  the  general  inquisition  with  as  HttleTlepar- 
ture  from  the  truth  as  might  be,  answering  to  all,  that  the  affair 
amounted  to  nothing  more  than  a  slight  alarm,  which  might, 
perhaps,  be  without  any  certain  foundation. 

Indeed,  he  endeavored  to  avoid  the  throng  as  much  as  he 
could, -remaining  in  the  house  in  the  vicinity  of  Mary.  He 
was  prompted  to  this  course,  not  only  by  that  magnetic  thread 
of  mysterious  attraction,  which  drew  him  involuntarily  to  the 
side  of  the  forest-born  beauty,  but  also  by  the  more  worldly 
wish,  to  scrutinize  her  countenance,  at  the  entrance  of  each  new 
arrival,  and  thus  to  learn,  from  her  looks,  who  were  the  bandits 
of  yesterday,  if  they  should  chance  to  be  in  attendance. 

Among  the  first  introductions,  was  a  Major  Morrow  with  his 
lady.  The  former  presented  a  great  brawny  frame,  with  a  small, 
globular  head  ;  fierce  and  irregular  features,  deeply  marked  with 
yellow  freckles  ;  keen  and  cruel  grey  eyes,  restless  and  menacing ; 
enormous  red  whiskers,  and  hair  of  the  same  fiery  tint ;  hands 
huge  and  apparently  heavy  as  sledge  hammers  ;  with  an  aspect, 
combining  the  strangest  mixture  of  cunning,  ferocity,  and  satanic 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND    SOL.    TDTTLE CAPTAIN    OARLYLE.  43 

pride.  He  was  fashionably  dressed  in  rich  black  cloth,  and 
seemed  not  a  little  vain  of  a  magnificent  gold  watch,  which  he 
consulted  every  few  minutes,  like  one  awaiting  impatiently  for 
the  moment  of  an  important  appointment. 

The  wife,  as  if  for  the  sake  of  contrast,  was  a  pale,  delicate 
figure,  lithe  and  slender  as  a  sylph,  with  features  sufficiently 
comely,  had  they  possessed  one  tinge  of  color,  and  eyes  of  so 
unearthly  a  black,  wild,  sad,  and  glittering,  as  to  fill  the  heart 
of  the  beholder  with  involuntary  and  nameless  awe.  Had  she 
been  less  youthful,  and  more  deficient  in  personal  charms,  she 
would  probably  have  been  mistaken  by  vulgar  superstition  for  a 
witch  ;  but  as  the  case  was,  she  might  have  sat  for  the  picture  of 
some  melancholy  ghost,  that  had  been  disembodied  by  love  and 
suicide. 

"  I  hear,  Mr.  Boiling,  that  you  had  a  fight  yesterday  with  the 
robbers,"  said  Major  Morrow,  in  that  singular  thumping  tone, 
which,  more  than  any  other  physical  peculiarity,  distinguishes 
the  man  of  belligerent  passions. 

*  "  I  met  with  some  ruffians  whose  conduct  indicated  evil  inten 
tions  ;  but  I  may,  perhaps,  have  misjudged  them,"  answered  the 
youth,  carelessly. 

"  Eh  !  you  don't  want  to  talk  more  about  it.  You  have  too 
much  modesty  to  blow  your  own  trumpet.  But  I  can  tell  you, 
the  country  swarms  with  rogues  ;  and  it  never  will  be  any  better 
until  we  organize  a  company  of  Lynch ers.  We  fixed  them  in 
Missouri — done  the  thing  up  brown,  I  may  say — we  hung  half 
the  thieves,  and  scared  the  rest  to  death  !" 

As  the  major  uttered  this  truculent  boast,  the  young  man  saw 
an  individual  who  had  just  entered  the  room,  cast  upon  the 
speaker  a  look  of  indescribable  rage  and  hatred.  He  then 
advanced,  and  Colonel  Miles,  grasping  his  hand  cordially, 
exclaimed,  "  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Sol  Tuttle  :  what  success  in 
your  late  hunt  on  the  Trinity  ?  Let  me  make  you  acquainted 
with  Mr.  William  Boiling,  of  Alabama." 


44         RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  Mr.  Boiling  I"  said  Sol  Tattle,  with  a  low  bow;  "  stranger, 
I  ax  pardon  ;  but  if  I  mout  be  so  bold,  are  you  akin  to  the 
Boilings  of  Old  Yirginriy  ?" 

"  I  am  the  son  of  General  William  Boiling,  formerly  of  the 
State  you  have  mentioned,  but  now  a  judge  in  the  city  of 
Mobile. " 

"  Then  you  are  of  the  true  grit,  and  no  mistake,  a  great  great 
granson,  or  sumthen  of  the  sort,  of  old  Pocahontas,"  cried  Sol, 
squeezing  the  youth's  fingers  so  ardently,  as  nearly  to  crush  the 
bones  ;  "  I'm  myself  of  the  same  linage,  though  of  rather  a  poor 
branch." 

"  Mr,  Tuttle,  let  me  introduce  you  to  Major  Morrow,"  said 
the  colonel. 

"  I  know  the  major  a  leetle  too  well  already,"  answered  Sol, 
turning  off,  with  a  disdainful  smile. 

"  What !  do  you  mean  to  insult  me  ?"  cried  Morrow,  with 
flashing  eyes. 

-  "  No,  it  ain't  worth  while,"  replied  Tuttle,  walking  coolly  out 
of  the  door,  when  the  other  muttered,  "  I'll  fix  him  yet  before 
the  sun  goes  down  !" 

William  Boiling  continued  to  observe  the  countenance  of 
Mary,  as  the  various  individuals  arrived  ;  but  he  could  perceive 
no  change  which  betrayed  the  advent  of  the  bandits.  She  kept 
her  eyes  riveted  on  the  entrance  of  the  parlor,  with  a  disquieted 
look,  as  if  she  feared  or  expected  the  appearance  of  some  unwel 
come  guest.  The  youth  then  remembered  that  she  had  used  the 
word  captain,  when  checked  by  her  father,  on  the  previous 
night,  in  her  incipient  disclosure  of  the  names  which  he  so  eagerly 
desired  to  ascertain  ;  but  he  very  soon  found  that  this  could 
afford  him  no  clue  to  the  discovery  sought,  since  every  third 
man  in  the  crowd  seemed  to  wear  the  nom  de  guerre  specified, 
while  the  remainder  were  of  higher  military  rank  ! 

At  length,  they  all  adjourned  their  mass-meeting  at  the  dwel 
ling-house,  and  collected  again  in  a  small  prairie,  half  a  mile 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND    SOL.    TDTTLE CAPTAIN    CARLYLE.  45 

distant,  to  witness  the  shooting-match.  The  target  being  set 
up,  at  sixty  yards,  the  sport  opened.  A  good  deal  of  close  firing 
followed,  and  considerable  money  was  lost  and  won,  bat  still 
nothing  occurred  to  elicit  unusual  excitement,  until  Major  Mor 
row  took  his  station,  and  poising  a  long,  heavy  rifle  off-hand, 
cried  in  boastful  accents  : — "  Now,  look,  boys  ;  and  I'll  show 
you  how  the  Lynchers  used  to  shoot  in  Missouri  !"  A  loud  roar 
drowned  the  last  word  and  the  ball  pierced  the  centre  of  the  target. 

Deafening  acclamations  rent  the  air  ;  and  the  major  shouted  : 
-— "  I'll  bet  a  hundred  dollars  in  gold,  that  no  other  man  on  the 
ground  can  beat  it." 

"  You  may  well  say  that,  for  nobody  can  git  nearer  a  mark 
than  the  centre,"  replied  Sol  Tuttle,  with  a  sneer. 

"  Then,  I'll  bet,  that  no  other  man  can  equal  it,"  said  Mor 
row,  frowning  savagely. 

"Done  !"  answered  Sol,  without  an  instant's  reflection. 

"  But  you  must  stake  the  cash  ;  I  don't  do  a  credit  business,'7 
remarked  the  Major. 

"  May  be  y'  think  I  haint  got  the  stuffin,  old  hoss-fly," 
retorted  Tuttle,  pulling  out  a  long,  greasy  purse,  and  counting 
out  the  required  sum.  He  then  went  to  the  stand,  and  measuring 
the  distance  with  his  eye,  said  in  tones  of  thunder: — "  Now,  I'll 
show  you  how  the  Moderators  used  to  whip  the  Lynchers  in 
Missouri  1"  Instantly,  he  raised  his  rifle,  almost  as  lengthy  as 
himself,  and  fired  quick  as  a  thought. 

"  You  have  missed  the  tree  !"  cried  the  major,  in  tones  of 
scornful  triumph. 

"  I'll  bet  you  another  cool  hundred,  that  my  bullet  has  gone 
right  into  the  same  hole  as  yourn,"  answered  Sol,  with  unwa 
vering  confidence. 

"  Done,"  was  the  response,  and  the  money  .was  placed  in 
deposit.  The  spectators  rushed  around  the  tree,  and  a  dozen 
blows  of  the  axe  decided  the  issue  in  favor  of  Tuttle.  The  two 
bits  of  lead  were  found  buried  together. 


46  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TAN  AHA. 

The  features  of  the  major  absolutely  writhed  with  vexation 
and  rage,  as  he  fulminated  the  brutal  challenge  : — "  Suppose 
that  we  exchange  this  sort  of  target  for  living  ones,  such  as  will 
prove  where  the  shot  touches  by  streams  of  blood  !  Let  us  aim 
at  each  other's  hearts,  and  I'll  bet  you  a  thousand  dollars  on 
trust,  if  you  wish,  that  you  fall  first  1" 

"  I  don't  want  to  shoot  you,"  replied  Sol,  "  for  yer  hide  ain't 
worth  the  trouble  of  skinnin'  it  from  yer  carkiss,  and  yer  meat, 
old  sinner,  would  be  tougher  than  bull  beef  P 
j.  An  uncontrollable  burst  of  laughter  from  the  bystanders  greeted 
the  ludicrous  retort  ;  and  Morrow,  nearly  choking  with  fury  and 
mortification,  cried  hoarsely,  with  the  adjunct  of  a  horrible  oath: 
— "  But  you  shall  fight  me,  or  I'll  horsewhip  you  within  an  inch 
of  your  life  !" 

"  Wait  till  the  balance  of  the  sport  is  over,  and  then  we'll 
see  about  it,"  said  Sol,  with  the  greatest  indifference. 

At  the  moment,  Colonel  Miles  announced  that  pistol  shooting 
was  next  in  order.  The  target  was  fixed  at  the  distance  of 
twelve  paces,  and  as  previously,  many  fine  shots  might  be  seen, 
but  nothing  which  appeared  to  approach  the  ideal  of  the  popular 
imagination.  At  last,  it  came  to  Major  Morrow's  turn,  and 
again  he  drove  out  the  centre.  He  repeated  the  same  boastful 
offer  of  a  bet,  which  was  as  promptly  accepted  by  Sol  Tuttle, 
and  the  identical  consequences  resulted,  which  had  been  wit 
nessed  in  the  contest  with  rifles.  The  pistol  bullets  were  imbedded 
in  one  hole  !  This  time,  however,  the  major  uttered  no  verbal 
threat,  but  his  dagger-like,  grey  eyes  looked  murder  ! 

Suddenly,  an  immense  shout  rung  on  the  air  : — "  Captain 
Carlyle  I  Captain  Carlyle  !  He  will  show  you  how  to  shoot  1 
huzza  for  the  gallant  captain  !" 

A  slender  man,  with  handsome  features,  long  flowing  dark 
hair,  and  vivid  black  eyes,  elbowed  his  way  through  the  throng, 
bowing  gracefully  to  the  right  and  left,  with  the  air  of  a  courtier, 
in  acknowledgment  of  the  general  acclamations. 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND    SOL.    TDTTLE CAPTAIN    CARLYLE.  47 

Young  Boiling  glanced  at  Mary,  and  thought  that  the  new 
comer  must  be  the  bandit  of  yesterday,  from  her  extraordinary 
emotion,  her  face  being  mortally  pale,  and  her  form  vibrating  as 
if  she  were  shaken  by  an  earthquake  1  But  the  demeanor  of 
her  father  gave  the  lie  to  any  such  supposition.  For  he  hailed 
the  stranger  with  extreme  cordiality,  and  even  fulsome  fawning. 
A  still  more  disagreeable  idea  then  gained  possession  of  Boiling's 
mind,  that  Carlyle  was  the  favored  lover  of  the  beautiful  girl, 
and  from  this  fact  resulted  her  agitation.  And  although  he 
could  not  be  said  to  feel  the  consciousness  of  passion  in  his  own* 
bosom  as  yet,  still  the  very  possibility  was  painfully  torturing, 
that  her  heart  might  already  belong  to  another.  Nevertheless, 
when  he  scanned  the  fascinating  appearance  of  the  captain,  he 
could  not  discredit  the  hypothesis  suggested  by  his  jealousy. 
At  all  events,  hope  whispered  to  his  fancy,  "  he  has  not  saved 
her  life  as  I  have  done  !" 

The  target  being  again  prepared,  Captain  Carlyle  stepped  off 
fifteen  paces,  and  after  turning  his  back  towards  the  mark,  sud 
denly  wheeled,  and  fired  quick  as  a  flash  of  lightning.  Plaudits 
followed  like  the  roar  of  a  whirlwind.  His  bullet  had  penetra 
ted  the  centre  !  He  then  snatched  from  his  bosom  a  small 
pocket  Deringer,  and  repeating  the  experiment,  produced  the 
same  result.  A  moment  afterwards,  a  raven  flitted  some  sixty 
feet  above  his  head,  through  the  air  ;  he  raised  his  other  duelling 
pistol,  and  shot  off  its  neck.  The  people  shouted  till  they  were 
hoarse,  and  this  feat  closed  the  contests  with  fire-arms.  No  one 
else  dared  try  his  skill  that  day. 

William  Boiling,  when  he  found  the  opportunity,  advanced 
towards  Carlyle,  so  as  to  get  a  more  accurate  view  of  his  features. 
Their  eyes  met,  and  encountered  in  a  stern,  searching,  protracted 
gaze,  as  if  their  two  secret  souls  were,  at  the  first  sight, 
measuring  each  other's  strength,  for  some  future  and  frightful 
conflict,  where  one  would  be  sure  to  perish  !  The  captain  did 
not,  however,  reveal  in  his  countenance  any  tokens  of  recog- 


48  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS   OF  THE   TANAHA. 

nition,  as  if  he  had  ever  seen  the  youth  before.  He  appeared 
to  be  actuated  by  a  mysterious  force  of  instinctive,  natural 
hatred — one  of  those  inexplicable  antipathies,  which  baffle  all 
analysis,  and  bemock  psychological  laws — and  similar  to  the 
emotion  that  moved  the  other  simultaneously.  Finally,  after 
this  mutual  mute  defiance  had  lasted  nearly  two  minutes,  the 
captain's  glance  fell,  and  he  turned  away  with  a  smile  of  revenge, 
lurid  as  the  light  of  purgatorial  flames. 

"  He's  afeerd  of  you,"  said  a  whisper  in  Boiling's  ear  ;  and 
casting  his  eyes  around,  he  beheld  the  serious  face  of  Sol  Tuttle. 
"Yes,  he's  sartanly  afeerd  of  you,"  iterated  the  hunter  ;  "  but 
you'd  better  keep  yer  eye  skinned  fur  him  :  becaze  he's  an  orful 
jewillist  1" 

"  I  shall  not  show  the  white  feather,  if  it  pleases  the  bully  to 
cross  my  path,"  said  the  youth,  haughtily. 

"  Oh  I  no  danger  of  the  old  Pocahontas  blood  playin'  craw 
fish  ;"  replied  the  other  ;  "  but  he  beats  the  very  devil  with  his 
pistol.  It's  wusser  nor  thunder  !" 

Hardly  had  the  word  left  the  speaker's  mouth,  when  Major 
Morrow  rushed  to  the  spot,  with  a  murderous  light  gleaming  in 
his  grey  eyes,  crying  furiously: — "Tuttle,  you  must  fight  me 
now,  or  take  the  consequence  !"  and  he  flourished  on  high  a 
heavy  horsewhip. 

"  Ar'  y'  spilein'  fur  a  tussle,  old  wolf?"  asked  Sol,  with  a 
merry,  ringing  laugh,  and  a  visage  indescribably  comical. 

"  Will  you  fight  me  as  a  man,  or  must  I  whip  you  like  a  dog  ?" 
thundered  the  major,  in  tones  of  phrensied  rage. 

"  Some  breeds  of  dogs  hev  a  dangerous  habit  of  bitin'  when 
y'  kick  'em,"  retorted  Tuttle,  with  a  sly  wink,  and  showing  his 
teeth,  as  if  to  intimate  that  he  belonged  to  the  canine  class 
specified. 

The  whip  fell,  but  the  howl  of  pain  was  uttered  by  Morrow, 
for  quick  as  the  flashing  of  a  thought,  Sol  seized  his  wrist,  and, 
giving  a  sudden  jerk,  dislocated  the  shoulder  of  his  adversary, 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND    SOL.    TUTTLE— CAPTAIN    CARLYLE.  49 

and  nearly  crushed  the  bones  of  his  arm,  with  a  grasp  like  fingers 
of  iron. 

"  Thar,  that  feeler  will  do  this  time,  old  coon,"  exclaimed 
Tuttle  ;  "  but  if  f  fool  with  me  agin,  I'll  onjinte  yer  cussed 
neck  I" 


CHAPTER  IT. 

THE    BALL — THE   DEPARTURE. 

THE  savage  personal  rencounter  described  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  did  not  interrupt  the  progress  of  the  festivities.  Only 
the  defeated  Major,  with  his  lady,  returned  home,  after  he  had 
availed  himself  of  the  little  surgical  aid  which  the  united  wis 
dom  of  half  a  dozen  quack  doctors  could  afford  him.  Colonel 
Miles  feasted  the  multitude  luxuriously  during  the  afternoon, 
and  at  night  they  enjoyed  themselves  in  their  favorite  pastime 
of  drinking  and  dancing. 

Captain  Carlyle  almost  entirely  monopolized  the  society  of 
the  fair  Mary  ;  and  William  Boiling,  as  he  wandered  about,  like 
a  restless  spirit,  among  the  throng  of  spectators,  heard,  with 
pain,  many  such  expressions  as  the  following  :  "What  a  hand 
some  couple  !  I  wonder  when  the  wedding  will  take  place  !" 
and  other  intimations,  showing  the  general  belief  that  the  future 
union  of  the  pair  was  a  fact  fully  arranged  and  settled.  How 
ever,  their  behavior  towards  each  other  did  not  seem  to  indi 
cate  one  particle  of  true  affection  on  either  side. 

The  eyes  of  the  captain  certainly  glowed  with  the  fiercest 
light  of  animal  passion — desire  without  delicacy,  tenderness  or 
love  ;  and  his  features  had  a  haughty,  sneering  look,  almost 
equivalent  to  positive  hatred.  The  young  girl,  on  the  contrary, 
appeared  utterly  dejected,  and  floated  through  the  mazy  evolu 
tions  of  the  waltz,  pale,  silent,  and  seemingly  unconscious,  as  if 


THE    BALL — THE    DEPARTURE.  51 

dancing  in  a  dream.  She  never  once  gazed  upon  the  visage  of 
her  partner,  or  replied  to  his  murmured  words.  Occasionally, 
indeed,  her  timid  glance  sought  the  face  of  William  Boiling,  but 
she  instantly  withdrew  her  eyes,  with  strong  symptoms  of  alarm, 
on  perceiving  that  he  was  regarding  her  with  vigilant  attention. 
The  youth  himself  experienced  the  most  disagreeable  emotions 
of  wonder  and  grief,  but  determined  to  wait  patiently,  and,  at 
all  hazards,  to  devise  some  means  for  the  solution  of  the  mys 
tery,  before  the  party  should  break  up. 

Captain  Carlyle  also  noticed  the  unremitting  observation  of 
Boiling,  and  his  aspect  became  positively  fiendish,  in  its  ominous, 
sarcastic  smile  of  unutterable  ferocity.  He  opened  his  thin, 
writhing  lips,  as  if  about  to  thunder  some  bloody  menace  of 
insult  and  defiance,  when  a  frightful  incident  happened  to  pre 
vent  the  act,  if  such  really  were  his  truculent  intention. 

Suddenly,  in  the  yard,  where  hundreds  had  been  carousing 
by  the  red  illumination  of  an  immense  pine-log  fire,  a  terrible 
outcry  was  heard.  Shouts,  shrieks,  curses,  and  all  the  usual 
tokens  of  a  murderous  melee  in  the  backwoods,  rent  the  midnight 
air,  accompanied  by  the  roar  of  pistols  and  the  ring  of  clashing 
steel.  The  populace  seemed  to  be  divided  into  different  contend 
ing  factions,  some  exclaiming,  "Hurrah  for  "Comanche  Ben  I" 
and  others  vociferating  similar  ejaculations  for  "  Sol  Tuttle," 
the  hunter  ;  and  the  tempest  of  the  battle  did  not  die  away 
until  the  descendant  of  Pocahontas  had  compelled  three  of  his 
opponents  to  beg  for  quarter,  fighting  with  his  fists  alone 
against  foes  weaponed  with  firearms,  who,  having  missed  their 
intended  victim,  had  unintentionally  laid  out  several  of  the  spec 
tators  dead  in  their  tracks. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  affray,  the  crowd  in  the  hall 
rushed  out  of  the  door,  to  witness  the  conflict,  and  young  Boi 
ling  was  left,  for  a  few  moments,  alone  with  Mary.  He  had 
caught,  amidst  the  noise,  the  name  of  Comanche  Ben,  which  the 
maiden  had  associated  with  the  bugle  of  the  bandits,  on  the  night 


52         RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

of  their  attack ;  but  earnestly  as  he  desired  to  unravel  that  mys 
tery,  there  was  another  one  deeper  and  dearer  to  his  heart,  now 
immediately  before  him,  in  the  troubled  countenance  of  the 
beautiful  girl. 

"  You  do  not  appear  to  enjoy  the  amusement  very  much," 
said  the  youth,  hardly  knowing  how  to  begin. 

"  I  detest  such  scenes,"  she  replied,  with  a  perceptible  shud 
der. 

"  You  surely  cannot  be  displeased  with  the  attentions  of  your 
partner,  as  he  never  leaves  your  side,"  suggested  Boiling. 

Turning  white  as  a  piece  of  paper,  she  murmured,  in  a  tremu 
lous  whisper,  "  Oh,  that  he  would  leave  me  now  and  forever  !" 

"  Then  why  do  you  tolerate  his  persevering  gallantry  ?" 

11  For  the  love  of  Christ,  for  pity's  sake,  do  not  ask  me  1" 
she  implored,  shivering  as  with  ungovernable  fear. 

"  Miss  Miles,"  said  the  youth,  in  low  tones  of  infinite  tender 
ness,  "accident  made  us  acquainted,  under  strange  circum 
stances,  yet  such  as  should  inspire  mutual  candor  and  confidence. 
You  have  interested  me  more  than  I  can  tell,  or  even  explain 
to  myself,  unspeakably  more  than  any  other  human  being  ever 
did  on  earth.  May  I  claim  your  pardon  for  asking  a  private 
interview  ?" 

Her  cheek,  before  so  pallid,  now  burned  with  the  brightest 
crimson,  as  she  commenced  her  answer  in  a  sweet,  sighing  whis 
per.  "  Yes  ;  I  also  wish  to  speak  to  you,  if" —  What  proviso 
she  was  about  to  annex  will  never  be  known,  as  at  the  instant 
her  father  entered,  from  an  adjoining  apartment,  and  with  angry 
features,  commanded,  "  Mary,  come  here  ;  I  want  you." 

A  moment  afterwards  the  throng  returned  to  the  room,  and 
the  waltz  went  on  again,  as  if  nothing  had  occurred  to  mar 
their  harmony,  with  the  exception  of  the  families  whose  circles 
had  been  so  rudely  broken  by  the  murders  in  the  adjacent  yard. 
Mary,  however,  did  not  again  appear  in  the  hall,  and  as  Boiling 
remained  with  his  eyes  riveted  on  the  door  through  which  she 


THE    BALL — THE   DEPARTURE.  53 

had  made  her  exit,  it  siu1.  Jenly  opened,  revealing  the  handsome 
form  and  smiling  face  of  Captain  Carlyle.  Their  glances  met 
in  another  long,  fixed  stare  of  speechless  hatred.  But  the 
aspect  of  the  duellist  had  a  look  of  such  deadly  meaning,  so 
cruelly,  defiantly  triumphant,  and  withal  so  scornful  and  over 
bearing,  that  the  high-spirited  young  Virginian  took  one  step 
forward  to  slap  his  cheek,  when  Colonel  Miles  caught  him  by 
the  arm,  and  drawing  him  aside,  remarked,  "  I  want  to  converse 
with  you  on  a  matter  of  great  importance.'' 

The  two  walked  out  some  distance  into  the  garden  behind  the 
dwelling,  and  pausing,  the  colonel  began  abruptly,  in  a  grave 
tone  : — "  Mr.  Boiling,  I  take  you  to  be  a  gentleman  of  the  purest 
honor,  and  therefore,  I  say  to  you  frankly,  that  any  attentions 
of  yours  to  my  daughter,  will  be  disagreeable  both  to  her  and 
myself." 

"  I  have  not  voluntarily  paid  her  any  attentions — at  least, 
any  more  than  her  late  misfortunes  forced  me  to  render," 
answered  Boiling,  haughtily. 

The  other  winced  at  this  reference  to  services  which  deserved 
treatment  so  different,  and  responded  hastily,  in  more  friendly 
tones  : — "  We  are  not  ungrateful  for  the  brave  defence  which 
you  made  against  the  bandits  ;  but  I  have  the  strongest  reasons 
for  the  sentiment  that  I  expressed  in  the  outset." 

"  Perhaps,  you  may  deem  me  unfit  to  associate  on  terms  of 
equality  with  your  family  ;  if  so,  let  me  assure  you,  and  the 
proof  is  easy,  that  I  am  your  peer,  both  in  wealth  and  respect 
ability,"  said  the  youth,  in  accents  of  caustic  bitterness. 

"  The  motives  for  my  conduct  are  not  at  all  of  the  character 
which  you  would  insinuate,"  remarked  the  Colonel,  in  a  voice  of 
displeasure.  "  In  plain  terms,  Mary  is  affianced  to  another, 
and  must,  of  course,  be  circumspect  in  her  demeanor  towards 
mere  strangers." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  thought  so  •  the  duellist  is  the  happy  man.  Col 
onel,  let  me  congratulate  you  on  the  magnificence  of  your  son- 


54         RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

in-law,  and  the  misery  of  your  only  daughter,"  exclaimed  Boiling, 
in  tones  of  terrible  irony. 

"  Why  should  she  be  miserable  as  the  wife  of  one  who  pos 
sesses  riches  and  popularity,  and  is  universally  beloved,  and 
who  could  to-morrow  be  elected  to  Congress,  if  he  desired  the 
honor." 

"  Because  she  hates  him  as  immeasurably  as  I  do." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?"  cried  the  father,  grasping  the 
young  man's  arm  with  convulsive  energy,  and  trembling  as  with 
an  ague. 

"  I  infer  it  from  all  her  looks  and  actions,"  answered  Boiling, 
"  and  you  *re  perfectly  aware  of  the  truth  yourself." 

"You  are  entirely  mistaken,"  said  the  Colonel,  breathing 
more  freely  ;  "  and  besides,  if  Mary's  heart  were  perfectly  free, 
you  dare  not  offer  her  your  hand,  as  I  am  well  advised  by 
information  which  I  have  received  this  very  night." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  interrogated  the  other,  in  great  sur 
prise. 

"  Because  your  proud  and  aristocratic  friends  would  disown 
and  cast  you  off  as  a  beggar,  if  you  should  wed  against  their 
wishes,  and  with  the  family  of  such  an  indifferent  a  character  as 
mine." 

11  Some  person  has  told  you  a  base  falsehood,"  returned  Boi 
ling,  with  a  certain  lofty  air  ;  "I  am  not  dependent  on  the 
caprices  of  my  kindred,  if  they  were  as  tyrannical  as  you  allege, 
because  I  chance  to  inherit  a  fortune  in  my  own  right,  by  the 
partial  will  of  my  deceased  grandfather.  However,  I  will  at 
once  relieve  you  from  my  disagreeable  presence,  if  you  will  be 
so  obliging  as  to  order  my  horse." 

"  Surely,"  said  Miles,  joyfully,  and  hurried  away  to  give  the 
proper  mandate. 

The  youth  walked  rapidly  back  to  the  house,  muttering,  as 
he  went,  "Before  my  exit,  I  will  claim  payment  from  the  cap 
tain  for  all  the  mute  insults  which  he  has  offered  me  ;  and  woe 


THE    BALL THE    DEPARTURE.  55 

to  him  if  he  denies  the  bloody  debt  !"  But  upon  entering  the 
hall,  to  his  bitter  disappointment,  the  foe  had  already  gone. 

Indeed,  it  was  now  nearly  daylight,  and  the  assembled  multi 
tude  had  begun  to  break  up  hastily.  As  the  young  man  passed 
out  of  the  door,  with  an  icy  bow  to  his  late  host,  Sol  Tuttle 
hailed  him  : 

"  Well,  Mr.  Boiling,  I  see  you're  about  to  cut  dirt  from  these 
diggins  ;  which  way  ?" 

"  My  road  lies  up  the  Tanaha,"  said  the  other. 

"  And  mine,  too,"  answered  Sol  ;  "  and  I'd  be  mighty  proud 
of  yer  company." 

Boiling  gladly  assented,  in  the  hope  to  learn  something  more 
of  several  persons  at  the  late  gathering,  from  the  friendly 
hunter.  But  the  latter,  at  first,  did  not  seem  in  the  least  dis 
posed  to  gratify  his  curiosity.  He  rode  on  in  moody  silence, 
looking  sharply  into  the  bushes  on  the  right  and  left,  as  if 
apprehending  danger. 

At  length  their  path  diverged  from  the  black  shadows  of  the 
forest,  and  entered  a  broad  expanse  of  prairie,  just  as  the 
diamond  beauties  of  the  golden  dawn  began  to  glitter  in  the 
starry  orient  ;  and  almost  immediately,  the  full,  infinite  efful 
gence  of  the  divine  day  illuminated  the  earth  and  sky.  For  in 
that  genial  Southern  land,  the  perfection  and  prime  of  light  do 
not  come  by  slow  growth,  as  in  the  higher  latitudes  of  the 
unfriendly  frozen  North.  First,  you  see  a  faint  sparkle,  a  gleam 
of  pale  fire,  modest  as  the  earliest  love-beam  of  a  timid  eye  ; 
next  a  sweet  suffusion,  a  crimson  glow,  like  the  blush  of  burning 
blood  on  the  warm  cheek  of  a  virgin  bride,  as  she  moves  on  the 
arm  of  her  chosen  one  to  the  altar  ;  and  then,  quick  as  the  rapid 
rush  of  lightning,  the  sun,  in  cloudless  glory,  parts  the  azure 
curtains  of  the  air,  and,  like  some  almighty  giant,  as  he  is,  leaps, 
at  one  flaming  bound,  out  of  heaven,  upon  the  earth  he  loves, 
and  clasps  it  with  fiery  caresses.  All  the  bright  birds  warble, 


RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA.  56 

the  butterflies  flash  their  rainbow  wings,  and  the  bees  murmur 
around  the  honey-dew  of  the  flower-cups. 

At  the  instant,  the  spirits  of  the  hunter  became  luminous 
with  the  air,  and  he  banished  all  previous  apprehension  from  his 
mind.  The  effect,  it  must  be  candidly  confessed,  did  not  originate 
so  much  from  any  sentiment  arising  out  of  the  poetical  beauty 
of  the  morning,  as  from  the  more  rational  sense  of  its  practical 
utility.  If  he  chanced  to  encounter  enemies  now,  it  would  be 
even-handed,  and  they  could  not  take  him  by  surprise. 

"  It  appears  that  you  had  quite  a  battle,  last  night,"  remarked 
Boiling,  with  another  effort  to  elicit  discourse. 

11  Yes  ;  and  it  was  all  on  yer  account,"  said  Sol,  with  a 
twinkle  of  humor  in  his  merry  black  eye. 

"  How  so  ?"  inquired  the  youth. 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  hunter,  not  heeding  the  question  ;  "  and 
I've  been  uneasy  all  the  way  on  yer  account,  too." 

"  Well,  suppose  that  you  explain  the  cause,  and  then  I  may 
perhaps  sympathise  with  your  feelings,"  remarked  Boiling  with  a 
smile. 

"  It's  rather  a  long  story,  and  I'd  rather  not  commence  until 
arter  breakfast,"  answered  Sol,  with  an  affected  seriousness  that 
failed  to  hide  his  anxiety  to  begin  at  once, 

11  Oh,  as  to  that,  you  can  cut  the  matter  as  short  as  you 
please  ;  only  let  me  have  some  fragment  of  the  tale,  as  it  so 
nearly  concerns  myself,"  urged  Boiling,  very  interested. 

"  I  guess  as  how  it  does,"  replied  Tuttle.  '*  Perhaps  you  mout 
know  Mary  Miles  ?  Don't  redden  so  about  yer  gills,  for  I  seed 
you  lookin'  at  her,  mighty  sweet.  Well,  I'm  powerful  intermate 
with  her,  and  I'll  tell  you  how  it  come.  The  gal  has  an  uncle, 
old  Jack  Miles,  who's  the  only  neighbor  in  a  day's  ride  of  my 
wigwam  ;  and  so,  as  there  be  but  two  on  us  and  our  families, 
you  may  swear  we  don't  quarrel.  Every  year,  and  sometimes 
oftener,  Mary  goes  out  thar  to  see  her  kinsfolks  ;  for  though 


THE    BALL THE   DEPARTURE.  57 

th  ey  be  poor,  like  meself,  she's  too  good  to  be  proud  ;  and  so 
you  see  as  how  I  come  acquainted  with  her.  Well,  she  took  to 
sort  o'  likin'  me,  but  I  liked  her  better  ;  and  that's  the  'casion 
of  the  intermacy  I  spoke  about.  Now  maybe  yer  would  wish  to 
know  what  she  said  to  me  last  night,  consarnin'  you  !"  interro 
gated  the  hunter,  with  a  sly  wink. 

"  As  you  please,"  said  Boiling,  coloring  to  the  eyes. 

"  Well,  jist  before  we  left,  she  slipped  round  the  house,  and 
tuk  me  one  side,  and  sez  she,  Mr.  Tuttle,  yo*  wer  interduced  to 
a  young  man  called  William  Boiling  ?  '  Yes,'  sez  I.  Sez  she, 
*  He's  in  danger  ;  some  persons  ar  goin'  to  murder  him.'  '  Who  ?' 
sez  I.  *  I  can't  give  their  names,vsays  she  ;  'but,  Sol,  yer  a  brave 
feller,  and  if  ye'll  jist  ride  off  with  him,  for  my  sake,  and  hold 
yer  tongue  on  the  subjec',  I'll  thank  you  as  long  as  I  have 
breath.'  And  then  the  big  shinin'  tears  come  into  her  black 
eyes,  and  in  mine,  too,  and  I  swore  I'd  do  it." 

"  Was  that  all  she  said  ?"  inquired  the  youth,  in-  accents  of 
the  deepest  anxiety. 

"  Yes  ;  for  then  the  Colonel  walked  up,  with  a  face  mad  as  a 
thundercloud,  and  cussin'  like  blazes,  told  her  to  make  herself 
scarce." 

"  Have  you  any  idea  when  Miss  Miles  will  visit  her  relations 
in  your  neighborhood  again  ?"  asked  Boiling,  with  indications 
of  emotion  too  profound  for  concealment. 

"The  fust  of  next  month,  so  she  told  me  yisterday;  and  if 
you'll  jist  go  home  with  me,  Susy  and  the  children  will  be  glad 
to  see  you  ;  and  by  waitin'  a  week,  you  can  chat  with  her  as 
much  as  you  want." 

"  I  cannot  accept  your  offered  hospitality  for  the  present, 
but  I  will  endeavor  to  avail  myself  of  it  in  a  few  days,"  replied 
the  young  man,  kindly.  "  I  must  try  to  discover  a  valuable 
servant  thai  I  lost  a  short  time  since." 

"  I  heerd  about  it/'  remarked  Sol ;  "  and  thar's  not  a  doubt 
the  robbers  have  got  him." 


58        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  What  course  would  you  advise  me  to  adopt,  under  the  cir 
cumstances  ?"  interrogated  Boiling,  thinking  that  the  hunter's 
familiar  experience  with  the  wild  scenes  of  forest  life  might  ena 
ble  him  to  impart  useful  information. 

The  latter  reflected  seriously  a  brief  space,  and  said,  "You 
had  better  go  to  Major  Morrow,  and  tell  him  all  about  it.  He 
can  do  more  for  you  than  I  can.  He's  got  a  secret  Lynchin' 
company,  and  is  up  to  all  the  cunnin'  tricks  of  the  rogues.  You 
see,  I  give  you  nmnterested  counsel,  for  I  hate  the  old  sinner 
worse  nor  a  polecat.  I  put  his  shoulder  out  of  jint  last  night, 
but  the  next  time  that  he  fools  with  me,  it  shall  be  his  neck." 

"  May  I  be  allowed  to  ask  what  was  the  cause  of  the  ani 
mosity  between  you  ?" 

"  He  killed  my  brother  in  Missouri,"  answered  Sol,  in  tones 
unutterably  mournful,  while  the  great  round  tears  rolled  down 
his  sunburnt  cheeks  like  rain-drops. 

As  soon  -as  he  became  less  agitated,  in  order  to  divert  his 
attention  from  the  painful  subject  of  his  thoughts,  Boiling 
inquired,  "  What  sort  of  a  country  is  it  where  you  reside  ?" 

The  hunter  responded  with  almost  poetic  enthusiasm  :  "  A 
perfect  paradise — a  big  sea  of  prairies,  level  as  a  barn-floor,  and 
sweet  leetle  islands  of  timber  sprinkled  all  over  it,  with  deers 
thick  as  cattle  in  a  medder,  the  sile  black  as  yer  hat,  the  green 
grass  up  to  yer  head,  and  full  of  yeller  flowers  as  the  sky  is  of 
stars." 

"  Do  you  own  the  laud  where  you  live  ?" 

"  No  ;  all  that  belongs  to  a  rich  speckerlater  in  Shelby ville, 
who  won't  sell  less  pieces  than  a  thousand  acres.  He  owns  fifty 
miles  square." 

"  Would  you  object,  if  I  should  purchase  the  entire  tract  ?" 
asked  Boiling,  cautiously,  remembering  the  statements  of  Col 
onel  Miles  as  to  the  bitter  prejudices  of  the  squatters. 

"  By  no  means,"  answered  the  other,  promptly  ;  "  I  don't 
feel  about  it  as  some  men  do.  I  know  the  sile  isn't  mine,  and 


THE    BALL THE    DEPARTURE.  59 

perhaps  not  much  of  it  ever  will  be,  so  it  matters  not  who  else 
has  it.  But  the  wild  bucks  and  buffaloes  are  my  property  as 
much  as  my  own  hoss,  when  they  git  within  reach  of  my  rifle  ; 
and  them  no  speckerlater  can  take  from  me,  unless  he  shoots  'em 
fust." 

"  How  does  it  happen  that  Colonel  Miles  is  so  wealthy, 
while  his  brother  is  so  poor?"  interrogated  Boiling,  suddenly 
changing  the  theme. 

"That  is  more  nor  I  can  say,"  responded  the  hunter,  with  a 
dubious  shake  of  the  head. ;  '*  some  people  think  that  the  Colo 
nel  has  speckerlated  mishonestly.  -One  thing  is  savtiu,  that  he's 
made  his  fortin  since  he  went  to  Texas,  only  ten  years  ago." 

"  Are  you  acquainted  with  Captain  Carlyle  ?" 

"  Ah  !  thar's  another  of  them  upstarters,  that  got  rich  in  a 
hurry  ;  "  said  Sol.  thoughtfully.  "  Five  winters  past,  and  he 
fetch  up  in  Shellyville,  without  a  penny  in  his  pocket,  and  now 
he  has  a  big  plantation,  and  works  a  hundred  niggers.  Prehaps 
he  made  it  shootin'  sumthin'  else  than  birds  !" 

"  Does  any  body  accuse  him  of  dishonest  conduct  ?" 

"  No  ;  every  body  is  too  much  afeerd  of  him  to  speak  a  word 
agin  him,  and  I  advertise  you  to  keep  yer  eye  skinned  when  you 
meet  him  ;  fur  it's  my  expression  that  he's  the  chap  who  inten 
ded  to  murder  you  last  night,  that  yer  gal  spoke  of." 

"He  will  meet  with  me  sooner  than  he  expects,"  remarked 
Boiling,  with  a  terrible  look. 

After  deliberating  in  silence  for  some  time,  the  youth  deter 
mined  to  follow  the  hunter's  advice,  and  seek  an  interview  with 
Major  Morrow.  Having  communicated  his  purpose  to  the 
other,  Sol.  after  pressing  him  not  to  forget  his  promised  visit, 
showed  a  dim  path  to  the  right,  leading  towards  the  heavy 
forests  of  the  Tanaha,  which  he  asserted,  would  conduct  him  to 
his  destination,  and  they  parted  with  emotions  of  mutual  good 
will. 

William  Boiling  pursued  his  journey  alone  over  the  wild 


60         RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

desolate  prairie,  waving  with  long  grass,  and  sparkling  with  the 
most  brilliant  flowers,  even  at  this  early  season  of  the  young 
year.  For  in  that  glorious  climate,  the  most  divine  in  the 
world,  the  sunbeams  of  the  first  month  in  Spring  turn  to  eme 
rald  verdure  and  amethystine  blooms  almost  as  soon  as  they 
touch  the  earth  with  kindly  kisses  of  fire.  The  red  deer  wantoned 
in  the  balmy  air,  or  reclined  on  the  velvet  green  sward,  the  tur 
keys  uttered  shrill  calls  to  their  mates,  the  wild  horses  careered 
in  the  blue  distance,  tossing  their  free  tails  like  banners  in  bat 
tle  ;  but  the  unconscious  youth,  saw  nothing,  heard  nothing, 
remembered  nothing,  save  the  self-created,  but  most  vivid  and 
bewitching  spectres  of  his  otfn  thoughts.  His  soul  wandered  at 
will  in  a  fairy  and  most  fantastic  world  of  dreams,  the  bright 
creatures  of  imagination  and  love.  Yes,  he  loved.  He  felt  it 
in  every  pulsation  of  his  heart,  in  every  changing  idea  of  his 
feverish  throbbing  brain,  and  he  realized  the  immutable  fact,  that 
he  had  never  before  in  all  his  life,  known  even  the  meaning  of  the 
word  passion.  The  new  feeling,  like  an  unutterable  inspiration, 
the  lightning  shock  of  some  celestial  flame,  mastered  his  reason, 
conquered  his  senses,  absorbed  all  his  essence,  sowed  the  universe 
with  stars,  coined  the  air  into  bridal  songs,  transmuted  every 
sand-grain  on  the  common  earth  to  gold.  All  the  trees  were 
of  living  emerald,  and  every  rock  glittered  with  the  dust  of  dia 
monds. 

While  present  by  the  dear  one's  side  he  had  wavered,  won 
dered,  doubted.  But  a  few  brief  hours  of  absence,  had  changed 
her  into  an  angel  of  perfection,  purity,  and  more  than  mortal 
beauty — a  thing  to  be  worshipped,  sainted,  and  enshrined  in  the 
holiest  place  of  the  heart  for  ever  more.  What  mattered  it  to 
him  with  this  fire  in  his  blood,  this  wild  lightning  in  his  brain, 
this  sweet  madness  in  his  mind,  that  insuperable  difficulties  barred 
the  road  to  fruition — that  fortune,  friends,  other  and  older  vows, 
fierce  foes,  and  death  itself,  appeared  in  the  path  to  the  heavenly 
hope,  and  warned  him  away  as  with  hands  of  horror.  He 


THE    BALL — THE   DEPARTURE.  61 

would  vanquish  all,  do  battle  against  impossibilities,  reverse  the 
iron  wheel  of  destiny,  unsphere  the  laws  of  nature,  and  grasp 
his  prize,  or  suffer  annihilation  of  the  soul  itself  in  the  crisis  of 
the  conflict  !  For  the  first  impulse  of  love,  everywhere  and 
ever,  is  a  frenzy  which  embodies  itself  in  fire-pictures  of  fancy 
and  feeling. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

MAJOR   MORROW   AND   JOANNA 

AT  length,  aroused  from  his  deep  reverie — that  heavenly 
dream  of  the  heart,  which  comes  to  every  human  soul  but  only 
once,  in  the  light  of  the  golden  dawn  that  lies  on  the  sweet 
paradise  of  our  youth — William  Boiling  found  himself  at  the 
gate  of  an  immense  field,  and,  from  the  previous  description  of 
the  place,  as  sketched  by  the  hunter,  he  recognized  it  instantly 
as  the  residence  of  Major  Morrow.  Indeed,  the  plantation  was 
so  singularly  arranged,  that  no  one  who  had  ever  heard  of  it, 
could  possibly  mistake  the  locality.  The  dwelling  of  the  owner, 
built  of  enormous  pine  logs,  in  the  form  of  a  block-house,  pierced 
on  all  sides  by  port-holes,  for  musket  and  rifle,  stood  in  the 
middle  of  the  vast  field,  and  at  the  centre  of  a  considerable 
square,  composed  of  negro  cabins,  as  if  the  whole  had  been 
specially  constructed  for  a  strong  position  of  defence.  Nor  were 
other  indications  wanting  to  prove  the  military  forethought  of 
the  Major  in  a  prudent  provision  to  guard  against  surprise. 
The  farm  absolutely  swarmed  with  dogs  of  every  variety,  among 
which  the  terrible  bloodhound  predominated  in  numerical  force 
and  ferocity. 

As  soon  as  the  young  man  made  his  appearance,  all  these 
savage  monsters  seemed  to  consider  him  an  intruder  upon  their 
domain,  a  natural  enemy,  upon  whom  they  had  an  inalienable 
right  to  pounce,  without  a  moment's  warning  ;  and  uttering 
unearthly  howls  of  rage,  they  rushed  towards  him  from  all 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND   JOANNA.  63 

directions,  like  a  whirlwind  of  hairy  demons.  Fortunately,  the 
fence  was  high,  and  being  outside  of  the  enclosure,  the  stranger 
was  safe  from  an  immediate  assault. 

In  a  brief  space,  an  African  hastened  from  the  house,  and 
stilling  the  canine  tempest  by  a  few  hearty  curses  and  well-aimed 
blows,  inquired,  with  a  profound  obeisance,  "  Pray,  massa,  what's 
yer  will  ?" 

"  I  desire  to  see  Major  Morrow." 

"  In  dat  case  ye  must  send  de  name  ;  fur  him  won't  allow  any 
wagabond  strangers  to  come  in  de  gate,"  remarked  the  slave, 
with  a  look  of  suspicion. 

Boiling  gave  the  required  address,  adding  that  he  wished  to 
consult  the  major  in  reference  to  a  servant,  who  had  recently 
been  stolen  by  the  robbers.  The  other  hurried  away  on  his 
mission,  and  shortly  returning,  with  a  countenance  of  evident 
satisfaction,  opened  the  ponderous  wooden  gate,  saying,  "  Massa 
Morrow  be  berry  glad  to  see  you." 

The  youth,  however,  hesitated  to  enter  the  hurricane  of  dogs, 
whose  red  gleaming  eyes  continued  to  watch  him  with  unwaver 
ing  attention.  "Neber-be  'fraid  of  dem  now,  massa,"  said  the 
negro,  noticing  the  dubious  apprehension  of  Boiling  ;  "  when 
me  lets  you  in,  dey  acknowledge  you  fur  a  friend,  and  would 
fight  for  you,  at  de  drop  of  a  hat." 

With  this  comfortable  assurance,  the  other  entered,  and 
instantly  experienced  the  truth  of  the  African's  assertion.  The 
shaggy  fiends  suddenly  changed  their  hostile  attitude  for  one  of 
4he  most  intense  welcome,  leaping  playfully  around  him,  and 
filling  the  air  with  ringing,  deep-mouthed  music.  How  strange 
a  mystery  is  the  manifestation  of  animal  instinct  !  This  uner 
ring  sagacity  without  speech,  this  logic  without  laws,  this  pecu 
liar  inference  of  the  senses,  which  often  fails  not  even  where 
human  reason  falters,  and  where  the  formal  rules  of  the  syllogism 
lead  to  fatal  errors.  Is  there  indeed  a  god  within  the  bosom  of 
the  mere  brute,  as  well  as  in  the  brain  of  his  lordly  master  ? 


64         RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

Boiling  met  with  a  most  cordial  reception  from  the  major, 
which  was  perhaps  due  to  the  nature  of  his  errand,  more  than 
to  any  personal  predilection  in  the  mind  of  the  other. 

"  You  must  excuse  the  offer  of  my  left  hand,"  said  Morrow, 
bowing,  and  holding  out  his  great  hairy  fingers  ;  "  that  hang 
dog  of  a  hunter  pulled  my  shoulder  out  of  joint  yesterday  ;  but 
it's  set  now,  and  will  be  all  right  in  a  week,  and  then  " — .  He 
checked  the  menace,  but  his  awful  aspect  told  that  it  would 
have  conveyed  a  murderous  meaning.  "  Take  a  seat,"  he  added. 
"  And  so  you  wish  my  assistance  to  find  your  nigger.  You  could 
not  have  called  on  a  better  hand.  I'm  arter  the  rogues  with  a 
sharp  stick,  and  the  end  of  it  on  fire.  You  were  a  little  shy  at 
the  Colonel's  ball  ;  but  that  was  right,  as  half  the  people  there 
were  thieves  :  and,  cunning  with  courage,  is  the  ginuine  watch 
word  for  these  diggins.  Howsomever,  you  must  now  tell  me 
all  about  it." 

The  young  man  commenced,  and  narrated  the  principal  facts 
connected  with  his  adventure  among  the  bandits,  suppressing 
only  what  related  to  the  beautiful  girl ;  his  soul  revolting  at  the 
bare  idea  of  mentioning  even  her  musical  name  in  the  presence 
of  so  coarse  an  auditor. 

The  major  heard  him  with  marked  attention  patiently  to  the 
close,  and  then  exclaimed,  with  an  air  of  deep  thought,  "  It's  a 
very  bad  case.  These  were  no  common  robbers,  or  petty  thieves, 
but  the  ringleaders  of  a  powerful  band,  as  bloody-minded  as 
they  are  brave.  Your  nigger  is  a  goner,  I'm  afraid." 

"  Do  you  think  that  they  have  killed  him  ?"  inquired  Bollingy 
sadly. 

"  Oh,  no  danger  of  that,"  answered  the  other,  "  if  they  could 
help  it.  Their  business  is  not  to  shoot  darkies,  which  would  be 
unprofitable  sport,  but  to  steal  them  and  run  them  off  to  the 
States  for  sale.  In  this  way  some  of  the  villains  have  become 
rich  in  a  few  years." 

"  Do  you  know  who  the  chiefs  of  the  enterprise  are  ?" 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND   JOANNA.  65 

"  May  be  as  how  I  do,  and  may  be  as  how  I  don't,  but  cun 
ning  with  courage  is  the  right  talk,"  said  the  major,  with  an 
inscrutable  twinkle  in  his  gleaming  grey  eye. 

"  You  think  then,  that  I  may  as  well  relinquish  all  hopes  of 
recovering  my  servant  ?"  interrogated  Boiling  in  gloomy  tones. 

"  Wait  until  to-morrow,  arid  after  consultin'  some  of  my 
neighbors,  I  will  be  able  to  tell  you  better  ;  but  I'm  sure  we'll 
never  do  much  with  them  rascals,  unless  we  raise  a  big  Lynch 
ing  company,  as  we  did  in  Missouri  ;"  and  the  major  uttered  a 
low  fiendish  chuckle,  at  the  recollection  of  scenes  which,  if  des 
cribed,  would  have  startled  his  hearer  with  unmitigated  horror. 

"  If  we  could  only  bring  them  all  together  at  one  grand 
barbacue,  and  poison  them  !"  suggested  a  voice  in  strange  mild 
sweetness. 

"Just  listen  at  her  !"  cried  the  major,  with  a  frown  ;  "  pisen 
is  Joanna's  great  medicine  to  cure  the  robbers  of  the  itch  on 
their  fingers  ;  but  I  call  that  downright  murder  I" 

"  Ah  !"  reasoned  the  wife,  in  the  same  mellifluous  accents  ; 
"  I  cannot  see  the  difference  betwixt  your  medicine  and  mine. 
You  stab,  hang,  burn,  and  whip  the  rogues  to  death.  But  cer 
tainly  the  most  genteel,  as  well  as  easy  way  of  dying,  is  by  poi 
son  ;  I  do  not  mean  any  of  those  common  coarse  drugs,  but 
some  quick  subtle  extract,  that  kills  like  a  flash  of  lightning  !" 

"  Shut  up,"  ordered  the  husband  savagely  ;  "you  make  my 
very  hair  stand  on  an  end  !" 

It  must  be  confessed  that  young  Boiling  fully  concurred  in 
the  major's  sentiment.  He  gazed,  with  a  cold  shudder  at  the 
visage,  immovable  as  marble,  of  that  singular  woman,  who  could 
thus  deliberately  avow  and  openly  defend,  the  perpetration  of 
crimes  the  darkest,  the  most  atrocious  in  the  calendar  of 
human  guilt,  or  even  in  that  of  devils  !  He  thought  at  first, 
that  her  words  must  be  ironical,  but  her  features  betrayed  no 
such  import.  There  was  not  a  gleam  on  her  pale  colorless  face, 
changeless  as  a  surface  of  snow  ;  while  her  wild  black  eyes 


66         RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

seemed  as  ever  sad,  and  profoundly  earnest.  He  was  surprised, 
however,  as  well  as  shocked.  Her  forehead  had  a  massive 
breadth  and  height,  denoting  much  intellect,  and  her  language 
at  once  luminous  and  grammatically  accurate,  revealed  some 
mental  culture.  There  was  nothing  about  her  positively  dis 
pleasing,  save  the  mouth,  with  icy  thin  lips,  sculptured  into  a 
sinister  smile,  that  seemed  to  have  frozen  there  forever.  Her 
age  might  amount  to  forty-five  summers,  but  although  she  was 
the  mother  of  a  troop  of  sons  and  daughters,  her  appearance 
showed  few  traces  to  indicate  the  flight  of  time.  Her  brow 
presented  not  one  furrow,  and  her  luxuriant  ringlets  had  the 
raven's  blackness. 

William  Boiling,  notwithstanding  all  his  abhorrence,  felt 
himself  involuntarily  spell-bound,  bewitched,  as  it  were,  literally, 
by  the  unaccountable  fascinations  of  this  wicked-hearted  female. 

"  Have  you  noticed  my  armory  ?"  inquired  Morrow,  changing 
the  subject,  and  pointing  with  a  gesture  of  pride  to  the  four  cor 
ners  of  the  room,  which  were  all  filled  with  enormous  stacks  of 
weapons,  rifles,  muskets  and  swords.  The  mantel-piece,  too,  was 
covered  with  knives,  daggers  and  pistols  of  every  form  and  cali 
ber,  from  the  long  duelling  barrel  to  the  murderous  revolver 
of  Colt,  and  the  not  less  deadly  tube  of  Deringer, 

"  Ain't  they  darlin's  ?"  asked  the  owner,  with  an  aspect  of 
infinite  beatitude,  as  he  smoothed  and  handled  these  shapes  ot 
steel,  and  even  talked  to  them,  as  if  they  had  been  children  of 
his  bosom.  These  are  the  true  friends,"  he  said,  with  glowing 
enthusiasm.  "  They  never  desert  one  in  the  day  of  danger. 
They  never  lie  or  tattle  or  deceive.  They  never  ask  for  anything 
but  a  thimblefull  of  powder  and  a  small  bite  of  lead,  and  they 
never  talk  at  all,  but  in  tones  of  thunder,  and  always  speak  to 
the  purpose.  They  are  gentler  than  horses,  for  they  never  kick  ; 
and  far  more  obedient  than  slaves  for  they  never  jaw  you  back  ; 
and  if  you  only  touch  them  with  even  your  little  finger,  they 
move  in  an  instant,  and  lay  the  proudest  foe  humble  at  your  feet  I' 


MAJOR    MORROW    AND   JOANNA.  6t 

The  major  then  proposed  a  walk  over  the  farm.  Boiling 
assented,  and  they  rambled  around  the  vast  field,  including 
nearly  a  mile  square  of  level  bottom  land,  fertile  as  the  soil  of  a 
garden,  and  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  The  young  corn 
was  now  about  as  tall  as  the  knees,  undulating  in  graceful  green 
waves  before  the  wind,  like  a  sunny  sea  of  emerald.  Some  fifty 
slaves  were  busily  employed  in  ploughing  and  hoeing,  and  the 
young  ma»  thought  that  he  could  detect,  in  many  of  their  coun 
tenances,  tokens  of  bitter  hatred  towards  their  master. 

They  had  approached  the  fence  on  the  bank  of  the  Tanaha, 
when  suddenly  a  dark  form  sprung  from  the  clump  of  bushes, 
and  uttered  a  loud  exclamation  of  the  wildest  joy  ;  "0  Massa 
Boiling  !  0  dear  dear  Massa  Billy,  am  you  here  ?"  and  the  lost 
Caesar,  weeping  tears  of  unutterable  emotion,  rushed  forwards 
and  clasping  the  young  man's  hand,  kissed  it  with  as  devout  a 
fervor,  as  if  it  had  been  a  holy  relic. 

"  Where  have  you  been  ?  How  did  you  escape  ?  tell  me  all 
the  circumstances,"  said  the  master  with  dewy  eyelids,  almost  as 
excited  as  the  slave  himself. 

"  When  you  got  away,"  began  Caesar,  "  I  was  so  powerful 
glad,  that  I  cried  loud  ;  thank  God  massa's  safe  ;  so  one  of  them 
hollered  to  the  rest,  don't  kill  him  for  he's  a  nigger,  but  all  of 
you  catch  him.'  Then  they  tried  to  gather  round  me,  but  the 
white  mule  kicked  like  a  whole  team,  and  I  kept  blazin'  fast  as 
possinble  with  your  revolver,  and  I  'spec'  I  hit  one  or  two  of  'em, 
fur  I  heard  'em  squall  out,  like  roosters  cotch  by  a  fox,  and  then 
they  tuk  to  shootin'  back,  and  I  'eluded,  that  I'd  never  see  Ala 
bama  any  more.  Then  I  thought  of  a  trick,  and  jumpin'  outen 
the  saddle,  run  off  through  the  bushes.  Arterwards,  I  circled 
round  till  I  found  the  trail  some  miles  ahead,  and  I've  kept  on 
Selim's  track  ever  since.  I  knowed  it  by  a  jog  in  the  shoe.  But 
I  had  to  come  dreadful  slow,  dodgin'  about  in  the  brush,  fur  I'se 
feer'd  to  be  seen,  'case  some  one  might  steal  me." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you,"  said  the  youth,  his  features 


68        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

beaming  with  affectionate  delight ;  "I  had  come  to  persuade 
this  gentleman  to  aid  me  in  searching  for  you." 

"But  whar's  the  angel  gal  ?"  inquired  the  slave  anxiously. 
Boiling  gave  him  a  token  to  be  silent  on  that  subject,  and  the 
other  then  asked  with  signs  of  equal  interest ;  "  hav^e  you  seed 
anything  of  Bob  ?  poor  fellow  !  I  'spec'  the  robbers  am  got  him." 

"  O  no,"  answered  his  master  smiling  ;  "  the  white  mule 
overtook  me,  in  a  short  time  after  the  attack,  and  has  «ontinued 
with  Selim  since.  You  will  find  him  in  the  stable. 

"  Ah !  I'm  so  happy,"  cried  Caesar,  still  weeping  ;  "  I  like 
Bob  better  nor  anything  in  the  world  'cept  you." 

The  incident  furnished  the  major  a  datum  for  the  universal 
and  necessary  inference,  which  he  deduced  equally  from  all  sorts 
of  facts  ;  "  We  must  organize  a  great  company  of  lynchers." 

They  all  walked  to  the  house,  and  Caesar  being  dismissed  to 
the  kitchen,  the  major's  family  with  their  guest,  sat  down  to 
supper,  at  the  fashionable  hour  in  the  backwoods,  a  little  before 
sunset.  Boiling  had  now  an  opportunity  of  inspecting  the  other 
members  of  this  peculiar  social  circle.  They  consisted  of  three 
sons,  ranging  from  nineteen  to  twenty-three  years  of  age,  huge 
freckle-faced,  red-haired  images  of  their  father,  and  two  daugh 
ters,  the  eldest  of  whom  proved  her  own  paternity  by  the  strong 
est  species  of  ocular  evidence  ;  while  the  younger  somewhat 
resembled  her  mother,  having  her  eyes  of  unearthly  black,  and 
strange  beauty  of  form  and  feature,  without  the  corpse-like  pale 
ness  of  her  complexion,  and  the  icy  smile  of  her  sinister  livid 
lips.  This  young  girl,  indeed,  would  have  been  extremely 
charming,  but  for  the  awkward,  blushing,  bashfulness  of  her 
manner,  and  her  obvious  want  of  intellectual  cultivation.  How 
ever,  both  these  extraneous  defects  might  yet,  perhaps,  be  remo 
ved,  as  she  had  scarcely  arrived  at  the  verge  of  fifteen. 

After  the  repast  had  ended,  the  major  remarked  to  his  guest, 
"Joanna  and  the  girls  must  amuse  you  to-night,  as  I  have 
important  and  pressing  business  in  the  neighborhood  that  will 


MAJOR    MORROW    AND   JOANNA.  69 

engage  me  till  a  late  hour.  Come,  boys,  get  your  weapons  and 
let's  make  tracks."  And  the  old  bear  and  his  three  cubs, 
shouldered  their  guns,  loaded  themselves  with  revolvers  and 
bowie  knives,  and  started  on  some  unknown  nocturnal  mission. 

In  order  to  while  away  the  time,  as  neither  Joanna  nor  her 
timid  daughters,  seemed  disposed  to  entertain  him  with  their 
conversation,  Boiling  stepped  to  a  large  book-shelf,  supported 
by  pins  driven  into  the  wall,  and  which  appeared  to  be  well 
supplied  with  learned  looking  octavos.  The  first  volume  that 
he  picked  up,  was  the  record  of  the  most  celebrated  criminal 
trials  in  all  ages  and  nations,  at  least,  so  the  title  announced  in 
pompous  phrase.  Upon  turning  over  the  leaves,  he  discovered 
from  their  soiled  thumb-worn  condition,  that  they  had  been 
thoroughly  studied,  especially  the  numerous  cases  of  prosecution 
for  poisoning,  which  all,  in  addition  to  the  horrible  text,  con 
tained  marginal  notes,  in  a  delicate  female  hand,  showing  that 
they  had  been  devoured  con  amort.  All  the  other  books  related 
to  medical  or  chemical  science,  and  the  youth  shuddered  to  per 
ceive  that  several  treatises  on  poison  had  been  annotated,  like 
the  criminal  record,  previously  mentioned,  with  reference  to 
baneful  herbs  and  their  effect  upon  animal  life. 

Determined,  if  possible,  to  penetrate  the  mystery,  he  inquired 
apparently  in  careless  tones  ;  "  may  I  ask,  madam,  if  any  of  your 
relatives  are  physicians  ?" 

"  I  am  a  female  doctor,  myself,  as  my  mother  was  before  me," 
replied  the  sweet  sinister  voice. 

"  It  must  be  an  interesting  profession,"  suggested  the  youth, 
feeling  his  way. 

The  wild  black  eyes  instantly  sparkled  with  sudden  animation, 
as  the  lady  answered  ;  "0  it  is  a  divine  study,  for  which  I 
always  felt  a  love  amounting  almost  to  positive  passion.  Let 
poets  and  philosophers  prate  as  much  as  they  like,  about  the 
wonder-working  control  of  the  mind  over  matter,  what  is  that 
compared  with  the  still  mightier  effects  of  matter  upon  mind  ? 


70        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

A  few  grains  of  opium  can  wrap  the  soul  in  dreams  of  elysian  lux 
ury,  or  thrill  it  with  infernal  pangs  of  fiery  torture  !  The  green 
tincture  of  an  Indian  herb,  can  bring  bliss  which  the  rose  bower 
of  Eden  never  knew.  The  purple  juice  of  a  plant,  that  creeps 
on  the  bosom  of  every  prairie,  can  'fill  the  mind  with  murderous 
madness,  such  as  all  the  sages  on  earth  could  never  hope  to  cure. 
Wild  weeds  grow  in  every  forest,  that  yield  an  essence  by  proper 
distillation,  one  drop  of  which  on  the  tongue,  will  kill  the  strong 
est  giant  of  mortal  mould,  quick  as  the  Maze  of  a  thunderbolt. 
One  fact  alone  decides  the  issue  of  strength  between  the  two 
worlds,  the  spiritual  and  material  ;  the  mind  cannot  destroy  one 
living  organ,  but  ten  thousand  forms  of  matter,  can  wither  and 
dissolve  the  entire  frame,  and  send  the  spirit  away  on  its  last 
long  journey." 

The  other  looked  at  the  feminine  speaker,  with  feelings  of 
unutterable  astonishment.  He  had  shared  the  common  preju 
dice,  that  very  little  intelligence  might  be  expected  on  the  fron 
tier,  forgetting  that  countless  different  causes — misfortune,  pover 
ty,  crime,  and  innate  restlessness,  have  combined  to  drive  exiles 
from  every  land  into  the  sheltering  shadows  of  those  dark  green 
woods.  At  length  he  asked  ;  "  Where  was  your  native  place  ?" 

" London,"  she  answered,  her  countenance  returning  to  its  old 
sad  expression  ;  "  my  father  was  an  eminent  professor  of  Chemistry 
till  a  great  calamity  compelled  us  to  emigrate.  We  wandered 
to  Missouri,  where  the  dust  of  all  my  family  now  rests  in  quiet, 
which  no  storm  can  ever  more  disturb.'7  She  paused  a  moment, 
and  added  in  a  strange  tone,  "  did  you  never  feel  that  it  would 
be  a  joy  to  die  ?" 

*'  I  cannot  say  that  I  ever  experienced  the  desire  of  which  you 
speak,"  responded  Boiling,  a  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  rapidly  effa 
cing  his  previous  serious  impression. 

"  I  do  not  allude,"  she  continued,  "  to  the  sweet  tranquillity 
which  death  insures  the  dreamless  repose,  the  freedom  from  all 
pain  and  passion  ;  from  the  doubts  of  love,  and  from  the  agonies 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND   JOANNA.  71 

of  hate  although  for  these  and  all  other  earthly  ills,  the  dark 
ness  of  the  grave  is  a  sovereign  remedy.  I  refer  to  the 
knowledge  which  the  immortal  mind  may,  perchance,  attain 
when  liberated  from  the  thrall  of  the  material  senses.  I  want  to 
pierce  the  secret  heart  of  the  universe  ;  to  get  behind  the  shift 
ing  scenes  of  purple  clouds,  and  painted  sunshine,  and  hold  the 
hand  which  moves  them  ;  to  scan  the  golden  axles  of  ten  thou 
sand  rolling  worlds,  and  see  on  what  they  hang.  To  perceive,  to 
know,  and  never  more  to  guess,  or  vaguely  imagine,  ah  !  may 
not  death  give  us  that,  for  surely  life  never  can  ?" 

"  But  may  it  not  also  give  us  something  more  than  that  ?" 
said  the  youth  weighing  slowly  his  words,  and  watching  their 
effect ;  "  may  it  not  bring  us  justice  ?  may  it  not  measure  out  pun 
ishment  for  all  our  sins  ?  may  it  not  place  us  face  to  face  with 
the  victims  that  we  have  so  cruelly  wronged  in  life  ?  May  not 
the  circumstances  be  reversed,  and  the  victims  exercise  the  office 
of  avengers  ?  may  not  those  who  were  the  slain  in  this  world 
become  the  slayers  in  the  next  ?" 

She  started  suddenly  as  if  stung  by  an  adder,  her  thin  lips 
were  convulsed  as  by  spasms  of  shooting  pain,  and  she  spoke  no 
more  that  night. 

In  the  meantime,  as  singular,  and  perhaps  a  much  more 
amusing  discussion  was  going  on,  in  one  of  the  small  negro  cabins, 
some  fifty  yards  distant.  The  sable  interlocutors  were  a  vain 
but  ignorant  mulatto,  with  sinister  features,  whom  they  called 
Hannibal,  or  by  the  usual  abbreviation,  Han.,  Caesar  and  Tony, 
the  latter  having  arrived  after  nightfall  from  the  plantation  of 
Colonel  Miles. 

"  I  wonder,  Darky,  that  you  did  not  stay  away  when  you  had 
got  rid  of  yer  master  so  easy  ?"  remarked  Han  with  a  sneer. 

"  Whar  would  I  stay,  out  amongst  the  wolves  ?"  answered 
Caesar  innocently. 

"  He's  ignorant  as  a  goose  1"  said  Han  with  a  look  of  affected 
pity. 


72  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

"  He  don't  know  nuthin'  of  life,  no  more  nor  a  blind  boss  I" 
added  Tony  with  an  air  of  pride. 

"  Would  you  have  me  to  live  on  grass,  like  a  buffalo  ?" 
interrogated  Caesar  with  a  puzzled  countenance. 

Lor  no,  you  black  booby  I"  laughed  Hail ;  "  couldn't  you  use 
yer  legs,  and  make  'em  carry  you  to  the  free  States  ?" 

"  Whar's  that  ?"  asked  Caesar,  opening  his  big  white  eyes,  till 
they  appeared  like  two  enormous  dogwood  blossoms. 

"  Jist  listen  to  him  !'•  cried  Han,  while  he  and  Tony  burst 
into  loud  peals  of  merriment,  showing  all  their  ivory. 

"  Well,  I  s'pose  I  must  colluminate  yer  ignorance,  poor  Nig 
ger,"  observed  Han  with  a  face  of  commiseration  :  "  there  am 
free  states  way  up  toward  the  north  star." 

"  Do  you  mean  heaven  ?"  interrupted  Caesar. 

"  O  Lor  !  you'll  kill  this  here  chile  !"  shouted  Han,  laughing 
until  the  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks  ;  while  Tony  tumbled  on 
the  floor,  and  kicked  with  tempestuous  mirth,  as  if  in  convul 
sions. 

As  soon  as  Han  could  master  his  emotions,  he  continued  ; 
"  The  free  states  am  in  Canady,  and  thar'  niggars  am  better  nor 
anybody  else.  Them  am  the  gentlemen,  and  the  others  black 
thar  boots.  Them  do  jist  what  'em  please  ;  marry  white  gals 
and  cuts  up  all  sorts  of  shines.  Well,  s'pose  you  don't  know  the 
way  thar,  plenty  of  white  men  in  these  parts  to  show  you. 
These  have  meetin's  in  de  woods  arter  night,  and  tell  you  all 
'bout  it.  Thar  am  one  to-morrow  evenin',  spose  you  go  'long  on 
us  j  but  if  you  cheap,  we'll  cut  yer  throat." 

"  What  do  they  call  these  white  men  that  help  niggers  to 
run  off  ?"  asked  Csesar. 

"  Hobbolitions,  or  bobolitionists,  I  don't  know  circumspec' 
which,"  replied  Tony. 

"  I'll  see  about  it,"  Caesar  remarked  prudently,  and  the  meet 
ing  adjourned,  sine  die. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CAPTAIN    CARLYLE    AND   LUCY — THE    MURDER. 

THE  residence  of  Captain  Carlyle  was  situated  in  the  rich 
alluvial  delta  of  the  Tanaha  and  Sabine,  near  their  point  of 
junction.  It  consisted  of  a  large  farm  in  a  high  state  of  culti 
vation,  well  peopled  by  numerous  choice  slaves,  while  the  dwel 
ling  was  a  sort  of  fortress,  very  similar  to  that  of  Major  Mor 
row's,  with  this  difference,  that  instead  of  standing  in  the  middle 
of  the  field,  it  occupied  the  bank  of  the  river,  which  happened 
in  that  place  to  be  high  and  precipitous. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  when  the  events  occurred  that  I 
have  just  related,  the  proprietors  of  the  plantation  might  have 
been  seen  seated  at  a  most  sumptuous  breakfast  in  a  small  room 
of  his  house,  which  he  chose  to  dignify  with  the  name  of 
"  Library,"  and  which,  it  must  be  confessed,  was  not  altogether 
unworthy  of  the  title.  An  elegant  book-case,  of  black  walnut, 
was  well  supplied  with  gold-dust  of  the  immortal  dead,  embrac 
ing  the  elite  of  the  ancient  and  modern  classics,  but  especially 
the  works  of  the  great  masters  in  jurisprudence  an<j  political 
science.  A  costly  sofa,  and  several  handsome  chairs,  with  some 
beautiful  paintings,  and  a  full-length  portrait  of  the  owner  on 
the  walls,  gave  an  air  of  luxury  and  refinement  to  the  apartment, 
seldom  witnessed  in  the  backwoods. 

Nor  did  the  presiding  genius  of  the  place  appear  ill-adapted 
to  the  scenes  around  him.  He  was  a  slender  man,  about  thirty 

years  of  age,  with  a  regular  face,  a  somewhat  dark  complexion, 

4  T3 


74         BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

eyes  of  vivid,  burning  black,  shining  wth  calm  and  steady  lustre, 
beneath  a  forehead  unusually  broad  and  well  developed,  but,  to 
a  certain  degree,  wanting  in  height.  His  long,  rich  hair,  of  the 
raven's  hue,  with  a  slight  tendency  to  natural  curls,  floated 
unpruned  around  his  shoulders,  and  combined  with  the  slight- 
ness  and  symmetry  of  his  general  features,  would  have  rendered 
his  aspect  too  feminine,  but  for  the  mighty,  massive  firmness 
of  his  chin,  and  the  stern  shortness  of  the  upper  lip,  clothed 
with  its  jetty  mustache  ;  while  his  teeth,  of  a  dazzling  whiteness, 
wide  apart  and  sharply  pointed,  gleamed  in  a  mouth  expressing 
iron  resolution  and  savage  force.  The  only  physical  trait  which 
could  be  detected  about  his  person,  at  all  disagreeable,  was  in 
the  voice,  its  tones  having  a  strange,  sinister  sweetness,  indi 
cating  insincerity — it  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  hearer 
to  tell  why,  or  even  to  define  the  effect  that  he  could  not  deny. 

But  the  captain,  although  breakfasting  in  his  library,  did  not 
enjoy  the  repast  in  solitude.  In  a  chair,  facing  his  own,  sat  a 
young  woman,  who  could  not  have  seen  more  than  twenty  sum 
mers.  To  the  glance  of  a  Sybarite,  the  charms  of  this  beauti 
ful  being  would  have  seemed  of  the  most  fascinating  description ; 
however,  they  might  be  too  warm  and  sensual  for  the  purest 
taste,  that  which  prefers  that  the  animal  splendor  of  form  and 
feature  should  have  some  rays  of  spiritual  light  mingled  with  the 
fires  of  emotional  feeling.  Her  figure  blended  the  rarest  mix 
ture  of  lithe  fairy  slenderness  of  the  waist,  with  healthy  fulness 
in  the  bust  and  bosom,  and  her  brilliant  black  eyes  literally 
blazed  with  the  flames  of  passion.  Her  exquisite  face  betrayed 
no  token  of  African  descent,  and  yet  her  complexion  was  dark, 
or,  more  properly,  of  a  golden  yellow,  and  of  a  singular  trans 
parency,  considering  its  tint,  revealing  the  crimson  blood  at  play 
in  the  arteries  of  the  temples,  like  lightning  beneath  a  rain 
bow.  It  would  have  been  impossible  to  say  what  might  be  her 
lineage.  She  might  have  been  an  Italian,  an  Andalusian  woman, 
a  gorgeous  creature  from  the  mountains  of  Circassia,  a  creole 


CAPTAIN  CARLYLE  AND  LUCY — THE  MURDER.        75 

from  Louisiana,  or  even  one  of  those  bewitching  quadroons  that 
one  sometimes  meets  in  the  gay  avenues  of  New  Orleans. 

"  How  did  you  enjoy  the  ball,  last  night?"  interrogated  the 
female,  in  a  slightly  foreign  accent. 

"  Yery  well,  Lucy,"  said  the  captain,  carelessly,  without 
removing  his  eyes*  from  the  plate  before  him. 

"  How  is  Miss  Mary  ?"  asked  the  girl,  and  her  features 
became  pale  as  she  pronounced  the  name. 

"Beautiful  as  ever,"  answered  Carlyle,  raising  to  her  coun 
tenance  a  cold,  cruel  glance,  as  if  he  sought  to  inflict  pain. 

Her  dark  eyes  blazed  wildly,  and  her  very  lips  grew  livid. 
Her  agitation,  and  the  fury  depicted  on  her  distorted  visage, 
revealed  volumes  of  meaning — love,  jealousy,  rage,  revenge, 
every  idea  that  can  burn  the  brain  or  madden  the  heart  of  a 
passionate  woman,  who  feels  that  she  has  suffered  an  irreparable 
wrong. 

Suddenly  she  calmed  the  internal  storm,  by  a  wonderful 
effort  of  will,  and  gazing  fixedly  at  the  other,  said  in  low  tones, 
stern  and  almost  masculine,  "  Captain  Carlyle,  have  you  forgot 
ten  that  this  day  is  an  anniversary  in  your  life  and  mine,  but 
greater  in  mine  than  your's  ?  Do  you  remember  your  promise, 
not  yet  fulfilled,  made  five  years  ago  ?" 

"  I  am  not  likely  to  forget  it  while  your  tongue  is  able  to 
move,"  retorted  the  other,  with  a  bitter  sneer. 

"  Do  you  intend  to  keep  it  ?"  she  inquired  in  a  thrilling  whis 
per,  while  the  flame  in  her  black  eyes  became  lurid  as  the  red 
light  of  a  forge. 

Her  writhing  countenance  startled  even  the  haughty  spirit  of 
Carlyle,  and  he  faltered  a  response  of  evasive  acquiescence  : 
"  Yes,  certainly,  Lucy,  at  a  suitable  time,  so  soon  as  I  realize 
a  sufficient  fortune  to  make  us  peers  of  the  proudest  in  your 
sweet  city  of  the  river  Crescent." 

At  the  moment,  a  servant  entered  hastily  with  the  message, 
"  Parson  Cole  is  in  the  parlor,  and  wishes  to  see  you." 


76  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TAN  AHA. 

The  Captain  bounded  from  his  seat  so  suddenly,  that  he  nearly 
overthrew  the  table,  and  rushed  from  the  room.  As  soon  as  he 
had  gone  and  Lucy  remained  alone,  an  extraordinary  change 
like  a  mysterious  transfiguration  passed  over  her  pale  face.  A 
saddened  look  of  ineffable  tenderness,  blended  with  measureless 
despair,  appeared  in  her  dark  eyes,  and  she  bowed  her  head  upon 
her  jewelled  hands,  and  gave  way  to  a  passionate  tempest  of 
tears. 

In  the  mean  time  the  interview  had  commenced  in  the  parlor, 
after  Carlyle  had  carefully  closed  and  bolted  the  doors.  Par 
son  Cole's  picture  needs  no  delicate  touches  of  the  pen.  He  was 
a  lean  diminutive  man,  some  fifty  years  of  age,  with  a  long 
thin,  melancholy  countenance,  relieved  only  from  utter  gloom 
by  a  pair  of  pale  blue  eyes,  denoting  much  shrewdness  with  a 
spice  of  dissimulation  ;  with  a  nose  like  the  beak  of  a  bird,  and 
flowing  hair  of  snowy  whiteness.  In  fine,  his  profile  resem 
bled  that  of  a  grey  hawk  in  contour,  but  in  expression  the  solem 
nity  of  the  owl. 

"  Have  you  just  arrived  from  Arkansas  ?"  inquired  Carlyle 
eagerly. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  other  in  hollow  tones  ;  "I  have,  however, 
travelled  slowly,  often  stopping  to  labor  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
gospel,  for  as  the  good  book  says,  the  harvest  is  great  but  the 
reapers  are  few." 

"  Reserve  your  hypocritical  foolery  for  camp-meetings,  and 
talk  like  a  man  of  sense,  or  I  will  hurl  you  out  of  the  window," 
threatened  the  Captain  with  a  frown. 

"  Well  then,"  replied  the  other,  instantly  changing  his  man 
ner,  and  uttering  the  ghost  of  a  laugh  ;  *'  question,  and  thy  ser 
vant  will  answer." 

"  How  are  your  friends  getting  along  in  the  Ozark  moun 
tains  ?" 

"  Increasing  in  basket  and  store,  I  mean  raking  together  as 
fine  a  lot  of  nigger  flesh  as  ever  you  set  eyes  upon." 


CAPTAIN  CARLYLE  AND  LUCY THE  MURDER.         77 

"  Were  you  at  the  encampment  in  the  big  swamp  ?" 

"  Sorely,  and  they  are  doing  still  better  there." 

"  Were  you  at  our  council-ground  on  Soda  lake  ?" 

"  Certainly,  and  the  boys  there  are  bringing  in  their  game 
by  hundreds." 

"  Does  our  great  secret  appear  to  have  leaked  out  any  where, 
so  far  as  you  can  ascertain  ?" 

"  Not  unless  it  has  in  this  county,"  responded  the  parson  with 
a  troubled  look  ;  "  all  other  parts  of  the  line,  from  Iowa  to 
Texas  are  perfectly  safe  ;  when  a  darkey  is  missing  in  Missouri, 
they  suppose  that  he  hasjoue  to  the  free  States  ;  in  Arkansas  he 
is  imagined  to  have  escaped  into  the  Indian  country  and  nobody 
dreams  that  we  have  an  organized  band,  with  a  strong  chain  of 
posts,  extending  along  the  frontier,  for  fifteen  hundred  miles. 
Occasionally  one  of  our  fellows  gets  nabbed,  but  he  never  cheaps, 
knowing  that  we  can  release  him  from  the  jail,  whenever  it 
suits  us." 

"  But  you  spoke  of  this  county,  as  if  some  danger  might  be 
apprehended  here,"  remarked  the  Captain  in  anxious  tones. 

14  Yes  ;  there  is  danger  here,  deep,  pressing,  immediate,"  said 
the  parson,  with  looks  of  evident  alarm. 

"  What  is  it  ?  Do  not  horrify  me  with  a  moment's  suspense  ?" 
exclaimed  Carlyle,  impetuously. 

"  Do  not  gripe  my  shoulders  so  ; "  answered  Cole,  moving  his 
chair  back,  to  avoid  the  involuntary  grasp  of  his  friend's  fingers. 
"  I  put  up  last  night  with  my  beloved  brother,  parson  Johnson  ; 
after  I  had  prayed  a  very  powerful  prayer,  in  which  by  good 
luck,  I  bore  down  rather  hard  upon  rogues  in  general,  and  nig 
ger  thieves  in  particular,  when  the  family  had  retired  to  bed,  my 
fat  brother  said  in  a  whisper,  that  he  had  an  important  secret  to 
tell  me.  He  then  related  all  our  plans  and  purposes  .of  specula 
tion  with  most  astounding  accuracy.  It  was  not  necessary  for 
me  to  feign  any  horror,  as  you  may  easily  imagine,  the  emotion 
was  too  real,  and  I  felt  it  in  every  hair  of  my  head." 


78         RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  But  could  he  give  the  names  of  our  association,  or  indicate 
its  leaders  ?"  asked  the  Captain  with  symptoms  of  intense  inte- 
rest. 

"  He  only  mentioned  yourself,"  said  Cole,  "  but  he  informed 
me,  that  they  would  know  the  rest  to-night." 

"  How  to-night  ?"  cried  Carlyle  pallid  as  a  corpse. 

"  They  have  a  meeting  to  arrange  a  grand  company  of  Lynch- 
ers,  and  some  person  will  be  there,  with  a  full  list  of  our 
names." 

"  Where  is  it  to  take  place?" 

"  In  the  Tanaha  bottom,  one  mile  from  Major  Morrow's,  under 
the  large  hollow  sycamore,  on  the  left  side  of  a  little  lake." 

"  I  recollect  the  spot/'  replied  Carlyle,  and  he  became  imme 
diately  buried  in  profound  meditation.  At  length  he  raised  his 
head  suddenly,  and  his  dark  eyes  beamed  with  the  light  of  reso 
lution  and  hope,  as  he  exclaimed  firmly  in  commanding  tones  ; 
"  parson,  you  must  attend  that  meeting." 

"  I  !"  gasped  Cole,  in  a  voice  tremulous  with  horror. 

"  Surely  you  must  and  shall,  in  order  to  master  their  secrets." 

"  But  when  they  come  to  read  the  names  of  our  band,  and 
mine  appears  among  them,  old  Morrow  will  have  me  hung  in  a 
twinkling,"  urged  the  parson  shuddering  in  every  limb. 

"  0,  no,"  argued  the  Captain,  "  you  can  deny  the  charge 
stoutly,  cry  out  persecution,  protest  and  pray  as  at  the  altar  ; 
the  holy  brethren  will  believe  you  ;  and  if  it  should  be  otherwise, 
at  the  worst,  our  men  will  rescue  you." 

"  I  neither  can  nor  will  run  the  risk,"  said  the  parson  doggedly. 

These  words  produced  a  magical  effect  upon  the  Captain. 
His  eyes  blazed.  His  writhing  lips  parted.  His  sharp  teeth 
opened  like  those  of  some  wild  beast,  in  the  act  of  pouncing  on 
its  prey  ;  but  nevertheless  he  spoke  in  a  voice  awfully  calm  ;  "  I 
am  the  chief  whom  you  have  sworn  to  obey.  I  order  it  ;  and 
you  shall  go,  or  I  will  pistol  you  like  a  wolf  !"  and  he  leisurely 
drew  out  a  deringer,  and  cocked  it  at  the  other's  heart. 


CAPTAIN    CARLYLE    AND    LUCY — THE    MURDER.  79 

"  Oh,  do  not  shoot  me,  captain  !  I  will  do  anything  you  say. 
For  God's  sake,  put  up  your  pistol  !  the  hammer  might  fall  by 
accident  I'll  go — I'll  go,"  cried  the  parson,  dropping  on  his 
knees,  half  dead  with  terror. 

Carlyle  replaced  his  weapon,  remarking  as  he  did  so,  "It  is 
well.  I  am  obliged,  under  the  life-penalty,  to  enforce  my  own 
commands,  as  all  the  subordinates  are  bound  to  execute  them  ; 
and  now  be  off  to  work  among  tfre  saints.  It  will  occupy  the 
greater  part  of  the  day  to  reach  your  destination." 

Cole  hurried  away,  with  a  strange  menacing  gleam  in  his  pale 
blue  eyes.  As  soon  as  he  left  the  room,  the  captain  said  to  him 
self,  aloud,  "  I  do  not  like  the  looks  of  that  man  ;  I  fear  that 
he  means  mischief.  Perhaps  he  himself  is  the  very  traitor  who 
is  to  furnish  the  catalogue  of  names.  I  must  see  for  myself. 
Yes  ;  I  will  brave  the  peril  of  the  enterprise.  It  is  better  to 
be  shot  like  a  soldier,  than  to  be  hung  like  a  dog."  And  he 
instantly  rang  the  bell,  and  ordered  Ins  horse.  Having  armed 
himself  with  two  heavy  revolvers  and  a  long,  double-edged  dag 
ger,  he  was  about  to  take  his  departure,  when  he  met  the  tear 
ful  face  of  Lucy  at  the  door. 

"  Where  are  you  going  now,  dearest  ?"  the  girl  inquired,  with 
a  countenance  of  mingled  fondness  and  fear. 

"  On  pressing  business,  Lucy,"  replied  the  captain,  in  kinder 
tones  ;  "  and  I  shall  not  be  back  till  to-morrow  evening.  There, 
do  not  pout,  like  a  little  jealous  fool  as  you  are  ;  for  I  shall  not 
be  near  the  residence  of  Colonel  Miles." 

"  A  farewell  kiss,"  murmured  the  enamored  woman,  throwing 
her  arms  around  his  neck,  and  clinging  tg  his  mouth  with  lips 
of  fire,  as  if  that  burning  embrace  were  to  be  the  last,  and  she 
would  rather  die  than  loosen  her  clasp. 

"  There,  that  will  do,"  he  said,  impatiently,  releasing  himself 
from  caresses  that  he  had  not  returned,  and  springing  into  the 
saddle,  he  galloped  off,  without  casting  a  glance  behind,  on  that 


80  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

pale  girl  who  gazed  after  him,  weeping  as  if  her  very  heart  would 
break. 

Oh,  say,  ye  viewless  spirits  of  the  air,  who  preside  over  the 
dark  dominions  of  human  pain  ;  ye,  who  have  watched  the  revo 
lutions  of  the  wheel  of  torture,  and  have  seen  the  warm  heart 
strings,  one  by  one,  break  with  silent  grief,  or  burned  suddenly 
asunder  at  the  martyr's  stake  ;  ye,  who  know  all  the  pangs  of 
life  and  of  death,  that  can  rend  the  brain  or  thrill  the  bosom ; 
ye,  who  keep  a  record  of  all  the  shrieks  of  frenzy,  of  all  the 
moans  that  man's  voice  can  make — say,  is  there  aught  in  the 
realms  of  sorrow  to  be  compared  with  the  immortal  agony,  the 
undying  heartbreak  of  jealous  love  ? 

No  such  thoughts  occurred  to  the  mind  of  Captain  Carlyle,  as 
he  spurred  his  horse  to  the  utmost  speed,  and  devoured  space  by 
miles  and  minutes.  He  paused,  however,  on  approaching  the 
prairie,  and  dismounting,  applied  his  ear  to  the  ground,  and 
listening  carefully,  arose  and  pursued  his  journey  at  a  less  rapid 
rate.  When  he  gained  the  edge  of  the  forest,  he  halted  again, 
and  with  an  aspect  of  much  surprise,  scrutinized,  through  a 
small  telescope,  two  horsemen,  some  half  a  mile  before  him,  and 
bound  in  the  same  direction  with  himself.  After  satisfying  his 
senses  as  to  their  identity,  he  soliloquized  :  "That  is  very 
strange,  a.nd  even  ominous  j  one  is  Parson  Cole  and  the  other 
Bob  Bennet,  my  first  lieutenant,  who  ought  now  to  be  at  Soda 
Lake.  Can  it  be  possible  that  he  is  treacherous — this  man,  whom 
I  have  ever  treated  as  my  own  brother  ?" 

He  then  turned  aside  from  the  main  road,  and  sought  a  dim 
trail,  through  the  deep  woods  bordering  on  the  banks  of  the 
Tanaha,  renewing  a^ain  his  headlong  velocity,  so  that  he  entered 
the  neighborhood  of  Major  Morrow,  by  the  middle  of  the  after 
noon.  He  tied  up  his  horse  in  the  heart  of  a  cane-brake,  and 
proceeded  on  foot  to  the  point  designated  for  the  meeting  by 
Parson  Cole.  Upon  examination,  however,  he  could  find  no 


CAPTAIN  CARLYLE  AND  LUCY— THE  MURDEK.        81 

suitable  place  for  concealment,  near  enough  to  witness  the 
expected  transactions  of  the  lynchers.  At  last,  he  thought  of 
the  hollow  sycamore,  and  looking  up,  perceived  a  hole  about  fif 
teen  feet  from  the  earth,  through  which  he  could  safely  both  see 
and  hear,  provided  he  could  find  within,  any  certain  support  for 
his  feet.  Upon  ascending  with  great  difficulty,  he  could  scarcely 
suppress  a  cry  of  joy  at  the  discovery  of  a  large  internal  knotty 
projection,  where  he  might  not  only  stand  but  sit,  as  on  a  secure 
platform  ;  and  here  he  determined  to  remain 

A  little  after  dark,  the  lynchers  commenced  collecting  in 
swarms,  until  they  amounted  to  at  least  three  hundred.  They 
built  an  enormous  fire  of  dry,  pine  branches,  and  having  sta 
tioned  sentinels  to  prevent  the  intrusion  of  strangers  or  spies, 
opened  their  proceedings  by  a  solemn  prayer  from  Parson  John 
son,  a  massive-formed,  trumpet-tongued  Methodist,  somewhat 
ignorant  and  coarse  in  his  language,  but  with  an  honest,  well- 
meaning  face.  Major  Morrow  was  then  unanimously  called  to 
the  chair — the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree — and  after  stating  the 
object  of  the  meeting,  in  about  the  same  terms  as  those  used 
by  Cole  in  his  communication  to  the  captain,  as  before  related, 
he  remarked  that  there  were  two  men  present  who  would  furnish 
the  names  of  the  thieves. 

Looking  from  his  hiding-place,  Carlyle  ground  his  teeth  with 
rage,  when  he  saw  Bob  Bennet  and  Parson  Cole  advance  to  the 
light  immediately  in  front  of  the  hollow  sycamore.  His  second 
in  command,  a  tall,  bony,  red-haired  youth,  detailed  at  length 
the  plans  and  operations  of  the  robbers,  but  did  not  state  cor 
rectly  any  of  their  haunts,  probably  with  a  view  to  the  future 
.  sale  of  his  secret. 

He  next  presented  a  catalogue  of  the  leaders  and  members  ; 
but  from  motives  of  private  malice  and  the  persuasion  of  his  new 
confidants,  he  added  to  the  list  many  citizens  of  stainless  reputa 
tion,  who  had  no  sort  of  connection  with  the  bandits,  and  among 
them  the  name  of  the  hunter,  Sol  Tuttle.  This  incredible  false- 

4* 


82         BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

hood. excited  a  murmur  of  surprise  and  disapprobation  from  a 
portion  of  the  crowd,  and  subsequently,  as  will  be  shown,  caused 
bitter  dissensions  among  the  lynchers,  and  favored  the  side  of  the 
robbers.  "  If  you  doubt  my  word,"  said  the  lieutenant,  "  here 
is  another  witness  for  all  I  have  asserted." 

Parson  Cole  then  mounted  a  pine  log,  and  began  :  "  My  dear 
brethren,  Mr.  Bennet  has  told  you  nothing  but  the  truth. 
About  twelve  months  ago,  I  became  acquainted,  by  mere  acci 
dent,  with  the  existence  of  this  dangerous  organization,  and 
resolving  to  unravel  all  its  hidden  mysteries,  at  the  peril  of  my 
own  life,  as  well  as  hoping  to  rescue  some  of  these  brands  from 
everlasting  flame,  I  sought  the  occasion  to  serve  the  public  good 
and  save  souls  at  the  same  time,  and  was  received  into  their  sin 
ful  society.  I  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  prove  the  humble 
means  of  converting  brother  Bennet,  and  can  fully  vouch  for 
the  correctness  of  his  statements." 

It  is  but  right  to  render  the  parson  justice,  by  remarking  that 
he  had  never  meditated  his  present  treachery  until  after  the 
captain's  harshness  in  the  morning,  when,  to  shield  himself,  he 
determined  to  turn  evidence  for  the  prosecution,  and  meeting  by 
chance  with  the  lieutenant,  they  suspected  each  other's  intention, 
and  agreed  to  act  together. 

A  stormy  debate  followed,  and  the  lyuchers,  after  swearing 
themselves  to  inviolable  secrecy,  adjourned  to  assemble  again 
on  the  second  night  subsequently.  They,  however,  adopted  one 
resolution  unanimously,  which  gave  Carlyle  the  greatest  pleas 
ure — that  Parson  Cole  and  Bob  Bennet  should  both  hasten  back 
at  once  to  the  captain's,  and  endeavor  to  purloin  his  private 
correspondence,  so  as  to  insure  the  most  unequivocal  proofs  in 
demonstration  of  the  conspiracy. 

"  I  have  them  now,"  whispered  Carlyle  to  himself,  as  he 
descended  from  his  concealment,  and  finding  his  horse,  flew  home 
wards.  He  reached  his  residence  early  the  next  day,  and  about 
noon  the  two  traitors  also  made  their  appearance,  the  lieutenant 


"  Ah  captain  you  treat  us  like  princes,"  exclaimed  the  parson,  much  intoxicated,  as 
they  seated  themselves  at  the  table,  while  two  athletic  negro  men  stationed  themselves 
behind  their  chairs,  in  the  attitude  of  waiters.— PAGE  83. 


CAPTAIN    CARLYLE    AND    LUC5T THE    MURDER.  83 

pretending  that  he  had  just  come  from  Soda  Lake,  and  the  par 
son  brimming  over  with  the  simulated  results  of  his  mission. 

The  captain  received  them  with  apparently  extraordinary  cor 
diality,  feasted  them  profusely  with  all  the  delicacies  of  the  table, 
and  abundance  of  sparkling  liquors,  but  never  let  them  out  of 
his  sight  until  supper,  which  was  spread  a  little  after  dark. 

"  Ah,  captain,  you  treat  us  like  princes,"  exclaimed  the  par 
son,  much  intoxicated,  as  they  seated  themselves  at  the  table, 
while  two  athletic  negro  men  stationed  themselves  behind  each 
chair,  in  the  attitude  of  waiters. 

"  If  I  treat  you  like  princes,"  said  the  captain,  smiling,  "  it  is 
because  I  intend  that  you  shall  be  exalted." 

"  He  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted,"  observed  Cole, 
with  ludicrous  solemnity,  repeating  one  of  his  favorite  texts. 

"  I  should  not  be  astonished,"  remarked  Carlyle,  mimicking  the 
other's  serious  tones,  "  if  you  had  merely  joined  the  wicked 
bandits  for  the  public  good,  and  to  save  some  poor  brands  from 
eternal  burnings.  Is  it  not  so,  parson  ?" 

Cole  looked  at  him  with  a  face  of  speechless  horror,  while 
Bennet  turned  white  as  a  snow-drift.  At  the  instant,  the  loud 
blast  of  a  bugle  was  heard  across  the  Sabine,  which  tended  to 
increase  the  tremulous  agitation  of  the  guests. 

11  What  is  the  matter,  gentlemen  ?"  inquired  the  captain,  in 
accents  of  feigned  surprise.  "  One  might  almost  imagine,  from 
your  ghostlike  visages,  that  you  had  never  heard  the  sound  of 
Comanche  Ben's  trumpet  before." 

Neither  of  the  terror-stricken  wretches  answered  a  word. 
They  inferred  from  the  captain's  repetition  of  so  singular  a  pas 
sage  in  Cole's  speech  at  the  meeting  of  the  lynchers.  that  he 
must  be  in  possession  of  their  fatal  secret,  and  besides,  they  dis 
covered  a  terribly  wild  light  in  his  dark  eyes,  which  seemed  to 
bode  them  no  good. 

"Take  some  wine,"  urged  Carlyle,  "it  will  steady  your 
nerves,"  and  he  pustfed  the  bottle  towards  his  guests.  Bennet, 


84        BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

recovered  from  his  recent  fright,  drank  an  enormous  draught,  as 
if  to  strengthen  his  resolution  for  some  desperate  deed  ;  but  the 
parson's  fingers  shook  so  violently  that  he  spilled  half  his  glass 
on  the  linen  table-cloth. 

"  I  am  glad  that  Judge  More  and  Sol  Tuttle  have  joined  our 
band,"  observed  the  captain,  watching  the  others  intently. 

"  Have  they,  indeed  ?"  gasped  Cole. 

"  Have  they  not,  indeed  ?"  repeated  Carlyle,  in  a  thundering 
voice  ;  "  you  said  so  last  night,  and  preachers  ought  not  to  lie." 

"  There,  take  that  I"  shouted  Bob  Bennet,  snatching  a  pistol 
from  his  bosom,  and  firing  at  the  captain.  But  the  barrel  at 
the  moment  flew  up,  and  the  ball  pierced  the  ceiling;  and 
instantly  both  the  traitors  were  thrown  upon  their  backs,  bound 
and  gagged  by  the  waiters  behind  their  chairs.  The  captain 
then  leading  the  way,  the  negroes  carried  their  prisoners  down  to 
the  bank  of  the  Sabine,  rowed  them  over  the  river,  where  their 
graves  were  already  hollowed  out,  and  a  hundred  members  of 
the  band  stood  waiting  to  judge,  hang,  and  bury  them — all  in 
the  course  of  an  hour. 

"  Boys,  we  have  happily  escaped  a  great  peril,"  said  Carlyle,  at 
the  conclusion  ;  "  the  community,  incredulous  even  at  first  of 
their  strange  story,  will  now  believe  that  they  have  run  away," 


CHAPTER  VII. 

SOL.    TUTTLE THE    UNEXPECTED   MEETING. 

WILLIAM  BOLLING  lingered  at  Major  Morrow's  resideiK*),  during 
several  days,  after  the  meeting  of  the  lynchers  previously  men 
tioned.  His  host,  although  apparently  restless  and  often  absent, 
especially  during  the  night,  treated  his  guest  with  the  utmost 
kind  affection,  and  without  detailing  particulars,  spoke  of  a  gen 
eral  scheme  to  regulate  the  country  by  an  armed  organization, 
with  many  obvious  hints  to  enlist  the  other  as  a  member.  The 
young  man,  however,  waived  all  discussion  on  the  subject, 
remarking,  that  as  a  mere  stranger,  and  until  he  concluded  to 
establish  himself  permanently  in  the  community,  it  would  not 
become  him  to  intermeddle  with  either  private  or  public  affairs, 
farther  than  what  might  concern  his  own  immediate  interests. 
He  sought  an  opportunity  in  vain  to  solve  the  singular  enigma 
connected  with  the  Major's  lady.  He  could  not  imagine  how  a 
woman  of  her  high  intelligence,  of  such  a  wild,  almost  poetical 
fancy,  could  have  thrown  herself  away  into  the  arms  of  such  a 
great  hairy  monster  as  this  husband.  He  attempted  by  indirect 
questions,  to  draw  something  from  the  latter  by  way  of  explana 
tion,  but  the  old  lyncher  responded  briefly,  and  with  evident  tokens 
of  some  painful  memory,  attached  to  the  period  of  their  court 
ship  and  union.  And  the  wife  after  their  strange  conversation, 
on  the  first  night  of  Boiling's  visit,  studiously  avoided  his  society, 
as  if  she  had  conjectured  he  already  possessed  her  secret.  % 


86        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OP  THE  TANAHA. 

Thus  excited  by  eager  curiosity,  which  he  found  it  impossible 
to  satisfy,  and  being  in  that  wavering  state  of  inquietude,  that 
always  attends  the  birth  of  a  new  passion,  as  yet  uncertain  of  its 
object,  the  youth  did  not  experience  one  moment's  rest.  Ten 
thousand  hopes  brilliant  as  rainbows,  and  more  beautiful  than 
stars,  gleamed  around  him  in  the  sunny  air,  but  alas  !  these  had 
to  wrestle  with  the  spectres  of  darkest  doubt,  equal  in  number, 
and  not  unfrequently  far  more  imposing  in  strength  ;  and  if  he 
sought  solace  in  dewy  slumber,  the  conflict  of  angels  and  demons 
was  again  repeated  in  his  troubled  dreams.  His  soul  was  fren 
zied  by  that  sweet  mysterious  madness,  which  has  power  to  infat 
uate  the  wisest  of  human  sages,  and  warm  the  most  icy  hearts. 
His  thoughts  wandered  in  an  unknown  wilderness,  an  imaginary 
world,  without  guides  or  waymarks,  for  all  the  old  loadstars  of 
his  life  had  set  forever  in  the  eclipse  of  a  lovelier  light,  which  had 
suddenly  dawned  on  the  earth  and  sky.  The  splendor  of  his  for 
mer  purposes,  the  dearest  memories  of  his  mind,  the  fondest 
affections  of  his  bosom,  faded  and  melted  away  like  morning 
mist  before  this  fresh  fire,  which  the  love  beams  of  two  dark 
eyes,  the  magnetic  rays  of  two  rosy  lips,  had  kindled  in  all  his 
veins  until  the  blood  seemed  alive  with  lightning. 

The  force  of  this  all-absorbing  emotion  appeared  to  have  the 
will,  as  much  as  the  imagination,  exclusively  under  its  control. 
He  wavered  like  the  pendulum,  amidst  the  alternatives  of  different 
impossible  plans.  Now  he  determined  to  go  at  once  boldly  to  the 
house  of  Colonel  Miles,  and  there  seek  an  interview  with  the 
beautiful  Mary,  at  all  hazards.  But  then  he  would  recollect 
that  she  had  never  given  him  sufficient  signs  of  encouragement 
to  warrant  such  a  step  ;  indeed,  his  fears  suggested,  she  might  be 
unaware  of  his  passion,  and  without  one  spark  of  reciprocal  feel 
ing  in  her  own  heart.  Next  he  would  pass  by  the  place,  and  thus, 
perhaps,  obtain  a  glimpse  of  that  angelic  form  through  the  door, 
or  catch  her  starry  eyes  at  the  window.  But  the  probability  was 
too  remote  to  serve  as  the  foundation  of  definite  action.  Again, 


SOL.   TUTTLE — THE    UNEXPECTED   MEETING.  87 

he  would  resolve  to  hunt  up  Captain  Carlyle,  to  insult  and  defy 
him,  and  by  this  means  provoke  a  duel.  But  his  lofty  sense  of 
honor  repelled  this  suggestion  as  unworthy,  and  nearly  akin  to 
murder,  as  the  other,  notwithstanding  his  disdainful  air  and 
demeanor  at  the  ball,  had  not  offered  such  a  positive  insult  as  to 
become  the  recognized  ground  for  a  challenge  to  deadly  combat. 

At  length  the  young  man  came  to  the  conclusion  that  in  order 
to  while  away  the  heavy  hours  of  torturing  time,  he  would 
pay  the  promised  visit  to  Sol.  Tuttle,  and,  perchance,  in  a  few 
days,  as  the  hunter  had  hinted,  Mary  might  arrive  at  her  uncle's 
in  the  neighborhood.  But  singular  as  it  may  seem,  he  determi 
ned  to  leave  the  faithful  Caesar  at  Major  Morrow's.  For  not 
withstanding  all  his  affection  for  the  slave  who  had  been  the  play 
mate  of  his  happy  childhood,  and  even  his  constant  companion 
from  the  cradle,  he  now  wished  to  be  alone.  He  would  not 
have  any  rude  voice  to  mar  the  music  of  his  divine  dreams.  He 
pined  for  the  solitude  of  bis  own  wild  thoughts.  He  needed  no 
sympathy  from  creatures  of  coarse  clay.  He  would  commune 
with  the  crimson  lustre  of  golden  clouds,  and  talk  to  beings  of 
beauty  in  the  air  brighter  than  a  thousand  suns.  He  would  find 
fresh  acquaintances  in  the  roses  of  theprairie,  and  sing  love-songs 
to  every  flower  of  the  forest.  He  would  syllable  the  celestial 
name,  till  the  winds  in  all  the  pine-tops  should  whisper  "Mary," 
and  the  blood  in  the  veins  of  the  violet  should  stir  at  the  sound  1 

A  little  before  sunset  he  reached  his  destination,  just  as  the 
hunter  was  coming  in,  with  an  enormous  deer  on  his  shoulders, 
and  a  great  black  dog  at  his  heels.  Boiling  thought  that  he 
had  never  witnessed  a  more  picturesque  scene.  The  bony,  ath 
letic  form  of  Sol  Tuttle  had  such  amazing  strength,  that  he 
scarcely  bent  beneath  his  heavy  load.  His  dark  features,  though 
rude  and  angular,  beamed  with  that  smile  of  satisfaction  which  is 
kindled  in  the  countenance  of  the  poor  man,  when  the  successful 
toils  of  the  day  are  done,  and  he  draws  near  home.  His  dress, 
entirely  of  leather,  was  stained  with  the  blood  of  the  fat  doe, 


88        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

which  he  had  recently  slain,  and  some  red  drops  crimsoned  the 
grotesque  tail  of  the  panther  skin,  the  natural  ornament  of  his 
singular  cap.  A  stout  round-faced  woman  with  rosy  cheeks, 
expressing  kindness  and  good  humor,  came  to  the  door,  with  fond 
looks  of  welcome  ;  and  half  a  dozen  happy  children,  with  ringing 
shouts  and  clamorous  questions,  ran  to  greet  their  father. 

At  that  moment,  Boiling  rode  up.  The  family  had  been  so 
busily  engaged  in  examining  the  spoils  of  the  chase,  and  congra 
tulating  each  other,  that  they  did  not  notice  the  approach  of  the 
stranger,  until  he  was  only  a  few  paces  distant,  and  the  black 
dog  uttering  a  sonorous  bark,  rushed  angrily  towards  him. 

"  Back,  Nigger,"  exclaimed  Sol,  to  the  ebon-haired  animal. 
"  How  are  you,  Mr.  Boiling  ?  you  come  quicker  than  I  'spected  ; 
but  I  guessed  as  how  I'd  dropped  a  honey-bait  that  would 
fotch  you."  And  he  wrung  his  guest's  hands  with  a  will  and 
heartiness  that  brought  the  blood  to  his  finger-ends. 

"  Here,  Susy,  little  folks,  all  of  you,"  cried  the  hunter,  "  this 
is  the  fine  Mow  I  found  at  the  shootin'-match,  the  great,  great, 
grandson  of  old  Pocahontas,  or  thereabouts  ;  so  you  see  he's 
kin'  to  us." 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  you,"  said  the  wife,  with  earnest,  though 
coarse  cordiality  ;  "  Sol  thar,  has  talked  of  nuthen'  but  you, 
since  he  were  at  the  ball." 

"  Step  inside,  and  take  a  seat,  while  I  tend  to  yer  hoss," 
urged  Tuttle  ;  "  and  Susy,  darlin',  stir  yer  stumps  and  git 
supper.  Mr.  Boiling  must  be  hungry  as  a  crippled  wolf,  arter 
sich  a  ride.  Cook  some  buffalo  marrow,  and  bar  meat  ;  and 
roast  the  ribs  of  the  der  ;  that  '11  make  him  lick  his  chops." 

The  log  cabin  consisted  of  a  large  room,  where  the  household 
remained  during  the  day,  and  which  answered  the  very  different 
purposes  of  parlor,  kitchen,  and  dining-saloou,  as  well  as  nursery 
and  workshop;  while  a  boarded  partition  divided  off  a  small 
space  for  a  sleeping  apartment.  There  was  no  floor,  save  the 
earth,  which  had  been  first  pounded  very  hard,  and  then  covered 


SOL.    TUTTLE — THE   UNEXPECTED   MEETING.  89 

with  the  hairy  skins  of  wild  beasts.  No  furniture  could  be  seen, 
except  a  few  fragmentary  utensils  for  preparing  bread  and  meat, 
several  home-made  stools,  and  a  long  table  of  pine  planks,  obvi 
ously  intended  to  seat  the  whole  family  at  once.  The  walls, 
however,  on  all  sides  were  adorned  with  horns  of  the  buck,  and 
bison,  and  with  the  fur  of  every  animal  of  the  forest  or  prairie. 
Wooden  pins  in  the  logs,  supported  half  a  score  of  guns,  and  as 
many  pistols,  while,  at  suitable  intervals,  appeared  gaping  port 
holes  ready  for  defence  in  case  of  attack.  The  location  of  the 
building  also  had  been  selected  with  a  view  to  such  a  possible  con 
tingency.  It  was  situated  nearly  half  a  mile  from  the  grove,  and 
the  yard  disclosed  a  fine  well  of  water  almost  at  the  door-sill. 

As  soon  as  Sol  had  put  away  the  young  man's  horse  in  some 
brush-framed  apology  for  a  stable,  he  returned,  and  with  all  a 
father's  pride  and  fondness,  more  formally  presented  his  various 
children,  embracing  two  sons  and  four  daughters. 

"  This  is  Mr.  Jack  Randolph  of  Roanoke,"  said  Sol,  pointing 
to  the  eldest,  a  bright  and  naturally  intelligent  boy  of -ten  sum 
mers,  with  dark  eyes  and  hair,  resembling  his  father.  "  Tell  the 
gentleman,  how  you  can  shoot  with  the  pistol,"  ordered  Tuttle. 

"  Oh,"  exclaimed  Jack,  with  sudden  animation,  "  I  can  drive 
the  centre  every  other  pop,  at  ten  paces,  and  smash  squirrels' 
heads,  if  they're  on  the  lower  sort  of  trees,  just  like  fun  ;  and 
arter  while  I'll  learn  to  snuff  out  candles,  as  well  as  daddy.  I 
wish  I  were  a  man,  so  I  mout  tote  big  guns  too." 

Sol  then  introduced  his  girls  without  much  vain  comment ;  and 
walking  to  a  piece  of  hollow  oak  that  lay  on  the  floor,  with  the 
skin  of  a  wild-cat  spread  over  it,  produced,  as  the  final  exhibition, 
a  boy-baby  some  six  months  old,  and  held  it  up  with  an  air  of 
such  infinite  tenderness  and  proud  delight,  that  no  one  could  fail 
to  recognize  this  as  the  favorite  jewel  of  the  circle.  Indeed  th-e 
child's  appearance  fully  justified  the  parental  vanity.  It  had  a 
strange,  wild,  almost  unearthly,  beauty  in  its  deep  black  eyes  ; 
its  hair  was  long,  and  dark  as  jet,  and  its  face  beamed  with  s 


90        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

sweet  spiritual  smile,  lovely  as  the  sinless  visage  of  an  angel,  as 
it  was. 

Boiling  could  hardly  suppress  the  exclamation  of  surprise 
that  rose  to  his  lips  on  beholding  the  tiny  being,  possessed  of 
indescribable  charms,  to  think  that  its  parentage  had  been  so 
rude  and  homely.  But  so  it  frequently  happens:  in  families  of 
even  proverbial  and  hereditary  coarseness,  there  will  come  occa 
sionally,  a  little  stranger  among  them,  with  no  lineaments  of 
likeness  to  its  race  ;  with  an  expression  of  features  so  purely 
ethereal  and  heavenly,  that  one  might  imagine  it  had  fallen 
down  into  the  mother's  lap,  from  the  stars,  a  gift  from  the 
fairies,  to  make  amends  for  the  native  ugliness  of  its  ancestry  ; 
and  the  withered  beldams  always  look  wise,  and  shaking  their 
hoary  locks,  mutter,  "Alas!  it  cannot  remain;  the  angels  take 
their  own!" 

"  Wife  says,"  remarked  Sol,  with  a  laugh,  "  that  I  likes  my 
boys  better  nor  the  gals." 

Susy,  with  a  meaning  smile  on  her  ruddy  cheeks,  gave  him  a 
sly  poke  in  the  ribs,  and  cried,  "  Sol  Tuttle,  y'  know  y'  do!" 

"  0,  no,  not  nohowsumever,"  protested  the  impartial  father, 
earnestly;  "  I'm  unly  prouder  of  the  hemales  because  they  seem 
to  'semble  old  Pocahontas  more  nor  the  shemales." 

What  distinguishing  traits  of  the  famous  Indian  beauty,  Sol 
alluded  to  as  bearing  a  similitude  to  his  son,  Boiling  could  not 
imagine,  unless  he  meant  the  dark  eyes  and  hair,  and  upon 
inspection  he  perceived  that  Tuttle's  daughters  were  yellow- 
haired  and  blue-eyed  like  their  mother. 

In  a  short  space,  they  sat  down  to  supper,  and  for  the  first 
time  in  his  life,  young  Boiling  was  enabled  to  realize  the  aston 
ishing  variety  and  richness  of  a  fiunter's  feast.  The  juicy  and 
delicate  marrow  of  the  bison  melted  on  the  tongue  like  celestial 
ambrosia,  at  the  table  of  the  gods.  The  turkeys,  done  to  a 
charm,  and  swimming  in  their  own  gravy,  and  the  warm  ribs  of 
roasted  venison,  surpassed  according  to  his  taste,  any  morsels 


SOL.   TUTTLE — THE    UNEXPECTED   MEETING.  91 

that  ever  previously  had  touched  his  palate  ;  while  the  hot  corn 
cakes,  browned  before  the  fire,  seemed  sweeter  than  all  condi 
ments  known  in  the  arts  of  the  cuisine.  He  no  longer  wondered 
that  men  contracted  a  passionate  love  for  the  wild  fare  and 
adventures  of  the  frontier. 

After  the  meal  was  ended,  Sol  prepared  himself  for  conversa 
tion.  A  spark  of  mischief  gleamed  in  his  twinkling  black  eye, 
^as  he  winked  slyly  at  his  wife,  and  asked  ;  "  Susy,  have  you  heard 
'the  news  ?" 

"  What  is  it  ?n  she  asked,  smiling  at  the  expected  fun. 

"  Mary  Miles  is  to  be  married  to  Captain  Carlyle. 

Boiling's  limbs  trembled,  till  the  very  legs  of  the  stool  seemed 
to  rattle  under  him,  but  the  hunter  feigned  not  to  notice  his  agi 
tation  ;  and  continued,  "  it's  all  fixed  to  come  off  next  month  ; 
so  old  uncle  Jack  told  me  this  morning  ;  we'll  all  be  axed  to  the 
weddin'." 

A  dark  cloud  passed  before  the  eyes  of  the  youth,  and  his  part 
in  the  subsequent  discourse  was  vague,  rambling,  and  often  so 
ludicrously  inappropriate,  that  Sol  and  Susy  could  not  suppress 
their  laughter.  At  an  early  hour,  to  his  infinite  relief,  the  family 
retired;  and  he  stretched  himself  on  a  layer  of  Buffalo  robes 
upon  the  floor. 

As  may  well  be  imagined,  however,  he  wooed  in  vain  the  un 
conscious  quiet  of  lethean  slumber.  The  wing  of  the  angel 
"  that  lights  on  lids  unsullied  by  a  tear,"  fanned  not  those  fiery 
eyeballs,  which  despair  held  open  with  iron  fingers,  and  which 
burned  with  so  fierce  a  fever  as  to  exhale  any  moisture  of  emo 
tional  dew.  He  arose  and  walked  out  beneath  the  tranquil  glow 
of  the  eternal  night-heavens,  to  cool  if  possible  the  hot  lightning 
in  his  veins.  But  alas  !  the  vision  which  a  thousand  times 
before  had  filled  him  with  philosophic  thought  and  poetic  fervor, 
with  nameless  longings  to  pierce  the  azure  depths  of  space,  and 
wander  through  those  endless  fields,  sowed  so  thickly  with 
radiant  worlds,  now  only  tended  to  depress  and  torture  his 


92  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

spirit  by  painful  comparisons,  the  suggestions  of  his  hopeless  love  ! 
He  looked  upon  the  everlasting  stars,  so  calm,  so  high,  so  holy, 
which  no  storm  disturbs,  and  no  tear-drops  stain,  and  his  heart 
said  in  a  thrilling,  throb-like  sound,  "  not  one  among  them  all  is 
beautiful  like  her  I"  He  saw  red  meteors  shooting  down  the  air, 
with  dazzling  yet  brief  brilliancy,  and  then  dying  out  in  darkness. 
"  Ah,  see  1"  murmured  the  voice  of  his  despair,  "  these  are  like 
me,  the  pale  exiles  of  heaven,  driven  away  with  scorn,  by  the 
proud  beauties  of  the  firmament  !"  And  thus  passed  the  slow 
silent  night-watches. 

A  little  before  daylight  Boiling  returned  to  his  couch,  in  order 
not  to  attract  observation  to  his  restlessness,  and  shortly  after 
wards  the  hunter  arose,  and  leaving  the  house  without  speaking, 
was  absent  some  hours. 

After  breakfast  the  young  man  observed  the  same  cunning, 
merry  twinkle  in  Sol's  black  eye,  which  had  preceded  his  torturing 
communication  of  the  evening  before,  as  he  remarked,  "  Susy, 
darlin',  it  seems  as  how  I  were  wrong  about  that  weddin',  arter 
all.  I've  just  been  to  uncle  Jack's,  and  they've  got  a  letter 
from  Mary  what  tells  another  story." 

Boiling  could  scarcely  suppress  a  wild  cry  of  joy,  and  his 
nerves  shook  with  uncontrollable  tremors  but  this  time  the  agita 
tion  was  one  of  boundless,  beatific  rapture. 

"  S'pose  we  go  over  and  see  uncle  Jack's  family,"  said  Sol  to 
the  delighted  youth  ;  "you  niout  as  well  git  acquainted,  becase 
I  guess  they'll  be  relations  of  yourn  some  day." 

With  a  crimson  cheek  Boiling  assented,  and  the  two  walked 
off  together.  They  soon  came  to  a  beautiful  little  grove,  some 
half  a  mile  in  diameter,  that  lay  like  an  island  of  the  greenest 
emerald  in  the  grassy  bosom  of  the  great  prairie.  The  path 
before  them  ran  straight  through  the  forest,  and  at  the  distance 
of  two  hundred  yards,  they  perceived  a  female  form  coming 
towards  them. 

Suddenly  the  hunter  paused,  and  observing  that  he  had  for- 


SOL.   TUTTLE THE   UNEXPECTED   MEETING.  93 

gotten  something  for  which  he  must    hurry  back,  he  added, 
"  you  go  on  slowly,  and  I'll  soon  overtake  you." 

The  youth  proceeded  alone,  while  the  woman  still  came 
onwards,  so  that  they  could  not  avoid  meeting,  had  either 
been  so  disposed.  All  at  once  when  they  were  about  fifty 
paces  apart,  both  halted  simultaneously  ;  the  female  quivering 
with  ungovernable  emotions,  while  the  other  uttered  a  wild 
exclamation  of  surprise  and  delight. 

Recovering  somewhat  from  their  astonishment,  again  they 
both  advanced  ;  the  young  man  with  eager  but  agitated  steps,  and 
the  young  girl  with  a  tremulous  gliding  motion,  like  one  walking 
in  a  dream.  They  met. 

"  Why,  Miss  Miles,  I  am  lost  in  wonder  to  see  you  here," 
was  all  the  trivial  greeting  which  William  Boiling,  at  the  first, 
either  could,  or  dared  offer,  the  idol  of  his  thousand  dreams. 

<fcl  came  with  my  father,  to  visit  my  uncle's  family,"  faltered 
Mary,  with  pallid  lips  and  a  timid  voice. 

"  Is  the  Colonel  in  the  neighborhood  now  ?"  asked  the  youth 
in  accents  of  intense  anxiety. 

"  No,  he  went  home  yesterday,  and  will  return  to  conduct  me 
back  again  next  week,"  said  the  maiden  with  more  calmness. 

"  Has  any  thing  new  happened  in  your  neighborhood  ?"  he 
inquired,  scarcely  knowing  what  to  say,  and  fearful  of  taking  a 
single  false  step,  which  might  hurl  him  down  from  his  heaven  of 
wavering  hope  into  a  gulf  of  measureless  despair. 

"  I  have  not  heard  of  anything  in  particular,"  she  answered, 
in  tones  of  still  greater  tranquillity. 

He  determined  on  a  bold  assault.  "  It  is  generally  rumored 
that  there  is  going  to  be  a  wedding  in  your  family." 

"  It  is  false  1"  she  said  in  a  faint  whisper,  while  her  nerves 
vibrated  more  violently  than  ever,  and  she  drew  her  breath  with 
difficulty  as  if  in  the  agony  of  suffocation. 

"  Does  that  bold  bad  man  continue  to  persecute  you  with  his 
hateful  attentions  ?'* 


94        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"Alas  I  that  it  is  so  !"  she  sighed  with  unutterable 
anguish. 

"  May  not  his  importunities  and  the  persuasions  of  your  father 
at  length  prevail  to  make  you  his  bride  ?"  inquired  the  young 
man  with  a  countenance  of  inexpressible  emotion. 

"  Never  !"  she  exclaimed,  in  tones  of  startling  energy,  never  1 
I  would  rather  die  1"  and  she  reeled,  as  if  about  to  fall  upon  the 
earth. 

The  youth  caught  her  hand  for  the  purpose  of  support,  but 
the  thrilling  contact  produced  other  far  more  magical  effects. 
All  the  blood  before  apparently  freezing  at  the  young  girPs  heart, 
suddenly  flowed  back  to  her  face  in  streams  of  burning  crimson. 
Her  rosy  lips  parted  slightly,  and  the  tears  gathered  in  her 
dark  brilliant  eyes,  like  luminous  mist  before  the  stars. 

The  result  was  equally  powerful,  and  as  immediate  with  her 
lover.  A  bright  flash  of  amethystine  flame  passed  before  -his 
sight,  as  on  the  day  of  their  first  meeting  in  the  tumult  of  the 
tempest.  A  torrent  of  magnetic  fire  seemed  to  issue  from 
her  trembling  fingers,  and  electrified  all  his  nerves.  It  tin 
gled  in  his  ears,  throbbed  in  his  heart,  thrilled  through  his 
brain,  and  found  utterance  in  his  tongue  :  "  O,  Mary,  I  love 
you  !" 

And  then  he  poured  forth  that  everlasting  language  of  pas 
sion  and  youth,  which  no  pen  needs  repeat,  because  the  whole 
world  has  it  already  by  heart,  burning  breath  coined  into  music, 
sighs  of  pain  sweeter  than  all  other  pleasure,  wild,  winged  words 
that  shall  roll  their  echoes  in  the  memory  forever,  figures  of  fire, 
sparkling  images  that  glitter  like  stars. 

He  paused  for  an  answer,  and  a  faint  dying  whisper  from  the 
fragrant  breath,  through  the  ringlets  of  raven  hair  on  his  bosom 
answered  "  Yes." 

And  thus  was  their  young  love  plighted  there,  in  that  isle  of 
evergreens,  in  the  great  prairie,  on  the  farthest  verge  of  civiliza 
tion.  The  wild  winds  sung  above  them  in  the  pinetops.  The 


And  thus  wns  their  young  love  plighted  there,  in  that  isle  of  evergreens,  in  the  great 
prairie,  on  the  farthest  verge  of  civilization.  The  wild  winds  sung  above  them  in  the 
pinetops.  The  gay  birds  warbled  their  morning  melodies.  The  vines  overhead  dropped 
tijwers  of  delicate  perfume  upon  their  hair.  The  red  deer  glanced  at  them  from  leafy 
bowers  with  timid  eyes,  and  all  nature  seemed  to  promise  a  happy  bridal  ! — PAGK  94. 


4 


SOL.   TTJTTLE — THE   UNEXPECTED   MEETING.  95 

gay  birds  warbled  their  morning  melodies.  The  vines  overhead 
dropped  flowers  of  delicate  perfume  upon  their  hair.  The  red 
deer  glanced  at  them  from  leafy  bowers  with  timid  eyes,  and  all 
nature  seemed  to  promise  a  happy  bridal ! 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

UNCLE   JACK 

AFTER  the  tempestuous  tumult  of  the  storm  in  summer,  when 
the  roar  of  the  wind,  the  rush  of  the  waters,  the  rattle  of  the 
hurtling  hail,  the  reverberating  peals  from  the  trumpet  of  thunder 
have  died  away  among  the  distant  mountains,  there  comes  a 
delicious  calm,  the  rarest  mixture  of  light  and  music,  combining 
all  that  is  most  bewitching  to  the  eye  in  the  one,  with  all  that 
can  enchant  the  ear  in  the  other  ;  as  the  rainbow- tinted  rays  of 
the  sun,  soft  as  the  lustre  of  evening  clouds,  smile  through  the 
trees,  shedding  their  large  drops  of  liquid  pearl-like  tears,  and 
the  forest  murmurs,  once  more,  with  the  glad  voices  of  bees,  and 
birds,  and  fluttering  insects. 

Thus  when  the  tempest  of  purest  passion  had  passed,  the  throb 
bing  rupture  of  hearts  breaking  with  their  own  excess  of  bliss,  the 
lightning  flashes  of  feeling  that  shook  every  nerve,  and  thrilled 
to  the  burning  ends  of  their  fingers,  the  lovers  experienced  a 
holy  tranquillity,  a  consciousness  of  perfect  and  perpetual  joy  that 
appeared  to  realize  the  beatitude  of  heaven  on  earth,  and  then 
followed  the  brief  question,  answered  by  the  eyes  more  than  by 
the  lips,  the  murmured  protestation,  the  ardent  and  oft-repeated 
vow  of  eternal  fidelity,  the  term  of  endearment  breathed  in  quiv 
ering  sighs,  and  the  nameless  nothings  of  voice,  look  and  gesture, 
which  are  yet  everything  to  the  sense  and  imagination  of  the 
soul,  in  this  its  new  world,  awakened  to  delights  and  perceptions 


UNCLE   JACK.  97 

of  bright  analogy,  of  which,  it  had  never  before  even  so  much  as 
dreamed. 

Mary  was  the  first  to  rouse  herself  from  the  overpowering 
trance,  and  withdrawing  her  fairy  form  from  the  young  man's 
involuntary  embrace,  she  gazed  upon  his  visage  with  timid 
modesty,  it  is  true,  but  with  a  countenance  of  unwavering  assu 
rance  in  his  faith  and  infinite  fondness,  while  he  returned  the 
look  with  boundless  ardor.  That  would  have  been  the  moment 
for  a  painter  to  have  sketched  their  likeness.  The  contrast  of 
figure  and  features  intensified  the  beauty  of  both  ;  and  the  soft 
sunlight  of  the  morning,  streaming  on  their  animated  faces, 
through  the  whispering  leaves  and  purple  vine-blossoms,  above 
their  heads,  transfigured  them  till  they  looked  like  beings  of 
another  world,  angels  of  immortal  youth  and  endless  charms,  or 
gay  creatures  of  the  upper  air,  such  as  in  the  lustre  of  the 
starlight  live,  or  "  play  among  the  plighted  clouds." 

The  form  of  the  young  girl,  now  on  the  verge  of  her  sixteenth 
summer,  though  apparently  taller  than  it  was  in  reality,  from 
the  slenderness  of  her  waist,  presented  only  the  medial  height 
of  womanhood,  and  seemed  animated  in  every  finely  chiselled 
limb  with  the  spirit  of  life  and  health.  Her  small  exquisitely 
shaped  head  was  crowned  with  hair,  softer  than  silk  and  black 
as  midnight  ;  but  although  dark-eyed  with  long  raven  lashes,  as 
if  to  veil  the  light  of  those  large  dreamy  orbs,  her  complexion 
seen  on  the  neck,  bosom,  and  even  little  lovely  hands,  looked 
white  as  driven  snow,  while  the  moist  divine  tints  of  the  red 
rose  appeared  on  her  full  round  lips  and  faultless  cheek.  It  is 
impossible  to  imagine  the  effect  of  such  a  combination  ;  the  dark 
eyes,  dark  hair,  the  dazzling  whiteness  of  the  skin,  and  the  rosy 
hue  of  the  sweet  mouth  and  cheeks.  While  standing  silent  in 
an  attitude  of  thought,  she  might  have  been  mistaken  for  some 
inimitable  piece  of  Grecian  statuary,  carved  in  snowy  alabaster, 
with  the  cheek  and  lips  tinged  by  soft  vermilion. 

The  youth  was  tall,  elegantly  shaped,  with  an  appearance  of 

5 


98         RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

much  strength,  and  still  greater  activity.  His  forehead  at  once, 
broad,  massive,  and  soaring,  denoted  a  well  balanced  intellect ; 
while  his  features  beaming  with  the  ruddy  hues  of  health, 
expressed  honor,  sincerity  and  iron  firmness  of  purpose.  His 
brave  blue  eyes,  vivid  and  penetrating,  indicated,  perhaps,  too 
much  pride,  but  their  haughty  fires,  of  which  T  have  just  spoken, 
were  softened  by  the  love-light,  that  radiated  from  their  flashing 
pupils. 

"  We  must  end  this  lengthy  interview,  it  will  cause  surprise 
and  observation,"  remarked  Mary  blushing,  as  her  mind  slowly 
came  back  from  the  fairy  realms  of  love  and  imagination,  to  the 
cold  dull  earth  of  angular  forms  and  ugly  shadows. 

"  Shall  I  walk  on  with  you,  to  the  hunter's  cabin,  or  will  we 
return  to  you  uncle's  residence  ?"  inquired  the  youth  in  tones 
that  seemed  to  deny  the  possibility  of  separate  locomotion  to 
either  of  them  if  parted. 

"  We  had  better  go  on  to  the  hunter's,"  murmured  Mary  ;  "  as 
that  was  the  point  of  my  destination  when  I  met  you." 

On  reaching  the  cabin,  Sol  hailed  them  cordially,  observing 
with  the  old  twinkle  of  mischief  in  his  black  eye,  "  Mr.  Boiling 
I  ax  yer  pardon,  but  I  could  not  find  the  article  what  I  wanted 
and  whurfore  I  jist  mout  as  well  wait  fur  you.  Ah  !  Mary,  you 
don't  know  what  a  curious  chap  this  here  young  fellow  is.  I 
spect  he  must  be  a  gastronemer,  fur  he  gazed  all  last  night  at 
the  stars,  like  mad,  and  I  think  he  called  one  of  them  by  yer 
name  too.  That  beat  me  all  holler.  I  had  heerd  myself  of 
some  tarnal  fine  old  gentleman  and  ladies  up  thar  in  the  sky. 
such  as  Jupiter,  Mars,  and  Saturday,  parfec'  fire-eaters.  I 
could  tell  the  sweet  wench  Yenus  by  sight,  and  I  had  larned  from 
the  almanac,  thar  war  a  heap  of  wild  varmints  runnin*  in  the 
range  somewhar  in  heaven,  sich  as  the  scorpion,  the  lion, 
the  dog-star,  the  big  bar  and  her  cub,  and  lots  of  fish  in  the 
milky-way  ;  but  I  wish  I  may  be  chawed  up  by  catamounts,  if 
I  knowed  thar  war  one  called  Mary  !" 


UNCLE   JACK.  99 

The  girl  turned  red  as  a  southern  sunset,  and  Boiling  gave  the 
hunter  a  look  of  mingled  wrath  and  entreaty.  The  latter  with 
a  half  suppressed  titter,  desisted  from  his  intended  torture,  and 
the  conversation  rambled  over  a  wide  field  of  indifferent  subjects. 

Finally,  the  young  girl  remarked  that  she  must  not  protract 
her  visit  longer,  as  she  had  promised  to  be  back  at  her  uncle's 
before  dinner,  and  the  family  would  be  uneasy,  if  she  did  not 
keep  her  word.  "  I  should  like  to  cumpaninate  you  home/'* 
remarked  Sol,  with  affected  seriousness,  "  as  thar  is  a  big 
painter  about ;  I  seed  his  track  this  mornin',  and  they  say  as  how 
the  critter  is  powerful  fond  of  gal-meat,  but  I've  pressin'  busi 
ness,  and  so  you'll  have  to  put  up  with  the  protection  of  Mr. 
Boiling,  and  perhaps  he'll  tell  you  whar  to  look  for  the  new  star, 
he  seed  last  nfght,  though  he  seemed  to  be  mighty  'fraid  he 
couldn't  get  it." 

To  cover  the  scene  of  blushes  and  confusion,  caused  by  the  hun 
ter's  ill-timed  drollery,  his  wife  brought  forwards  the  bright-eyed 
baby,  observing  with  an  air  of  immeasurable  vanity,  "  0,  Mary, 
you  haven't  noticed  how  it  grows,  and  gits  prittier  every  day, 
as  if  it  were  bran  new  each  mornin'  !  thar  darlin'  sweet,  go  to 
the  lady,  bless  its  little  soul,  see  as  how  it  knows  you  !" 

The  beautiful  child  did,  indeed,  appear  to  recognize  the  young 
girl.  A  smile  like  starlight,  such  as  comes  only  from  innocent 
hearts,  before  they  have  caught  one  stain  of  contagion  from  this 
world  of  sin,  beamed  on  its  angelic  features,  and  it  stretched 
forth  its  small  hands  as  if  to  greet  an  old  acquaintance. 

Mary  received  it  fondly  into  her  arms,  smoothed  its  raven  curls, 
and  baptized  its  little  velvet  lips  with  a  rain  of  affectionate 
kisses,  and  then  handed  the  lovely  boy  back  to  its  mother. 
William  Boiling  took  the  child  from  her  bosom,  and  repeated 
the  process  with  equal  fervor. 

"You  won't  leave  one  of  Mary's  kisses  on  his  mouth,"  said  the 
hunter  in  a  tone  of  much  solemnity.  The  youth  restored  the 
babe  to  the  maternal  arms  feeling  at  the  same  time  a  strong 


100  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

temptation  to  knock  the  jester  down,  but  when  he  turned  to 
Sol,  his  tongue  was  thrust  out  into  the  left  cheek  with  an 
expression  so  irresistibly  comical,  and  the  funny  twinkle  danced 
so  merrily  in  his  eye,  that  even  Boiling,  notwithstanding  his 
rage  and  mortification,  could  not  keep  from  smiling. 
^  The  lovers  then  proceeded  on  their  way.  They  repassed  in 
silence,  but  with  wildly  throbbing  hearts,  the  scene  of  their 
morning's  interview.  Should  they  linger  on  earth  a  thousand 
ages,  neither  of  them  would  ever  forget  that  spot,  while  mem 
ory  might  hold  even  the  faintest  trace  of  departed  years. 
Henceforth,  and  for  evermore,  it  was  consecrated  ground,  a 
holy  shrine  for  the  pilgrimage  of  thought,  an  immortal  Mecca  of 
the  mind,  a  purple  paradise,  where  the  angel  of  earliest  Love  had 
made  its  advent  in  their  young  and  yearning  souls ;  and  never 
more,  no  never  more,  on  earth,  would  another  tree  of  the  forest 
or  garden,  for  their  eyes,  bear  such  golden  blossoms,  as  that  wild 
vine  of  the  deep  Texan  woods,  which  flung  down  its  dew- 
dropping  flowers  on  the  luxuriant  masses  of  their  mingled  hair. 
No  more  might  the  sky  be  so  blue,  or  the  bright  heaven  so  near 
them.  For  the  painful  fires  of  passion  may  be  rekindled  a 
hundred  times  as  ardently  as  ever,  but  the  saint-like  raptures 
of  first  love  can  be  felt  only  once,  and  may  never  be  renewed. 

The  dwelling  of  old  Jack  Miles  was  situated  half  a  mile  east 
ward  from  the  grove,  previously  mentioned,  as  that  of  Sol 
Tuttle  stood,  at  an  equal  distance  from  the  same  forest-island, 
towards  the  west.  When  the  lovers  reached  the  place,  it  was 
the  hour  of  dinner,  and  Boiling  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
whole  family  at  once. 

The  circle,  besides  the  parents,  consisted  of  half-a-dozen  sons, 
ranging  in  their  separate  ages,  from  twenty  to  thirty  years, 
great  brawny  specimens  of  backwoods'  health  and  strength,  brave 
as  bull-dogs  and  hardy  as  pine-knots,  rude,  yet  honest,  ignorant, 
but  still  endowed  with  the  shrewdness  of  common  sense  ;  and 
two  daughters,  one  eighteen,  and  the  other  about  the  same 


UNCLE    JACK.  101 

bright  season  of  virginity  as  her  cousin  Mary,  and  resembling 
her  very  much  in  features  and  complexion  ;  while  the  first  sister 
had  grey  eyes,  brown  hair,  and  the  common  visage  of  her  brothers. 

The  father  himself,  was  at  the  least,  sixty,  and  his  locks 
looked  white  as  wool  ;  but  from  the  ruddy  glow  on  his  large 
warm  cheeks,  and  the  manly,  supple  erectness  and  mighty  force 
of  his  enormous  frame,  he  might  have  passed  muster  easily  for 
forty-five.  His  countenance  revealed  candor  and  honesty,  and 
although,  it  was  whispered  that  he  had  been  a  little  wild  in  his 
youth,  and  somewhat  dangerously  addicted  to  the  phrenological 
sport  of  sounding  the  strength  of  other  men's  sculls  with  his 
fists,  he  had  long  since  reformed,  and  was  now  a  most  exemplary 
Methodist. 

The  mother  was  a  jovial,  though  pious,  old  lady  of  fifty,  in 
spectacles  and  snowy  cap,  with  a  kind,  well-meaning  face, 
usually  veiled  in  blue  smoke-wreaths,  from  a  short-stemmed  pipe 
with  an  enormous  bowl. 

"  Uncle  Jack,"  said  Mary,  with  a  slight  tremor  in  her  voice, 
and  a  heightened  color  ;  "this  is  Mr.  William  Boiling,  of  whom 
you  have  heard  me  speak.  He  is  now  staying  for  a  short  time, 
at  Sol  Tuttle's  ;"  and  she  continued  the  presentation  to  the  other  ^ 
members  of  the  family  circle.  They  all  greeted  him  kindly,  but 
scrutinized  his  countenance  with  careful  attention,  as  if  specially 
interested  to  ascertain  his  true  character.  If  the  fact  must  be 
told,  although  it  may  give  an  indifferent  idea  of  the  young  girl's 
art  of  concealment,  they  had  previously,  from  her  discourse, 
guessed  at  the  secret  of  her  attachment,  and  sought  now  to  sat 
isfy  themselves  as  to  the  worthiness  of  its  object.  The  result 
appeared  to  be  highly  pleasing,  and  before  he  left  the  house, 
Belling  was  a  general  favorite. 

"  Mary,"  remarked  old  Jack,  "  what  has  gone  with  that  dark- 
eyed  feller,  that  come  here  last  time  with  you  and  your  daddy  ? 

"  He  still  lives  somewhere  in  the  country,  I  believe,"  answered 
the  girl,  turning  mortally  pale. 


102  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

"  Your  daddy  thought  a  mighty  heap  of  him,"  continued  thfe 
uncle,  not  noticing  her  confusion,  "but  I  didn't  like  him  at  all. 
When  he  opened  his  mouth,  he  looked,  for  all  the  world  like  a 
wildcat,  and  then  he  was  so  handy  with  his  pistols,  shootin'  off 
bird-heads.  I  hate  a  bloody  jewellist  worse  nor  rattlesnakes. 
It's  cowardly  for  a  man  to  fight  with  anything  but  his  fists, 
onless  it  be  agin  Injins." 

Old  Jack  paused  a  moment,  and  the  shuddering  niece  hoped 
that  he  would  not  resume  the  painful  subject,  but  suddenly  he 
went  on  again,  at  a  more  perilous  pace  than  ever  ;  "  I  thought 
that  my  brother  wanted  to  hitch  you  on  to  that  wagon,  Mary, 
but  with  all  his  niggers  I'd  rather  see  you  the  wife  of  the  poor 
est  Texan  ranger,  what  owns  nuthin'  but  his  rifle  and  an  honest 
heart  ;  fur  Pm  certain  that  that  fellow's  a  rogue  as  well  as  a 
jewellist.  I  know  the  beasts  by  the  cut  of  their  eye,  jist 
as  I  can  tell  the  age  of  a  hoss  by  lookin'  in  his  mouth 
What  did  they  call  him  ?  Captain  Sumthin'." 

Mary  attempted  to  answer,  but  if  her  life  had  depended  on  the 
utterance,  her  tremulous  organs  of  speech  could  not  have  artic 
ulated  the  syllables  of  that  hateful  name. 

"  Captain  Carlyle,"  suggested  her  youngest  cousin,  the  dark- 
eyed  Flora. 

"Aye,  that's  it,"  said  the  father;  "captain  of  robbers  I 
reckon  ;  if  he  ever  shows  his  fop's  face  in  these  diggins,  I'll  wring 
his  neck  like  a  rooster's.  That  is,  I  would  if  I  wur  not  in  the 
church,"  he  added  correcting  himself. 

"  And  I'll  do  it,"  thundered  the  oldest  son,  Bill,  "  church  or 
no  church,  if  he  pesters  Mary  agin." 

In  order  to  relieve  the  maiden  from  her  embarrassment,  which 
increased  every  moment,  Boiling  took  his  leave,  with  the 
promise  that  he  would  visit  the  family  as  frequently  as  possible, 
while  he  remained  in  the  neighborhood,  in  accordance  with  their 
general  and  urgent  solicitation. 

As  soon  as  he  had  gone,  the  circle  resounded  with  warm  eulo- 


UNCLE    JACK.  103 

gies  ou  his  beauty,  his  frank  countenance,  and  pleasing  manners. 
"  Eh  !  Mary,  this  chap  will  do,"  said  old  Jack,  his  red  face 
beaming  with  a  glow  of  enthusiasm  ;  "  he's  worth  a  dozen 
sich  proud  puppies  as  the  tother. 

"  What  brave  eyes  1"  -exclaimed  Bill  ;  "  he  looks  as  if  he 
mout  undertake  .battle  with  an  old  he-wolf  without  wea 
pons!" 

"  What  a  fine  form  I"  cried  the  mother,  "and  what  a  hand 
some  face  !"  added  Margaret.  As  for  the  pretty  Flora  she 
made  no  remark  at  the  time,  but  steadily  watched  with  her 
eager  black  eyes  the  delighted  and  blushing  features  of  her 
cousin.  A  few  minutes  afterwards,  these  went  out  of  the  door 
as  if  they  mutually  desired  a  private  interview 

"  Is  that  the  young  man  who  saved  yon  from  the  robbers  ?" 
inquired  Flora.  For  those  two  cousins  had  never  yet  had  any 
secrets  which  they  did  not  share  in  common. 

"The  same,"  replied  Mary. 

"  Oh  !  cousin,  how  you  must  love  him." 

"I  do  !  I  do  !  I  love  him  better  than  my  own  life,  more 
than  words  can  express,  more  than  music  might  sing  in  its 
divinest  songs,"  murmured  Mary,  throwing  herself  into  her  sweet 
friend's  arms,  and  shedding  tears  of  passionate  love  more  precious 
than  Indian  pearls. 

0  delightful  confidence  of  the  young  trustful  heart  !  that 
knows  not  how  to  doubt,  and  in  its  guileless  inexperience  fears 
no  treachery.  That  can  pour  out  all,  even  the  maddest  myste 
ries  of  the  bosom,  into  the  sympathising  ear  of  equal  innocence 
and  friendship,  and  divide  its  dearest  bliss  and  darkest  sorrow 
with  another,  that  double  self,  which  once  departed,  it  shall 
never,  no  never,  find  again. 

"  Does  he  love  you,  Mary  ?  I  know  he  does,"  said  Flora,  with 
radiant  dew  drops  also  sparkling  in  her  dark  eyes. 

"  He  says  so,  I  hope  so,"  was  the  whispered  answer. 

"  But  will  vour  father  consent  ?" 


104  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

"  Never,  I  am  afraid,"  responded  the  other  mournfully. 

"  Then  I  would  run  away  with  him,  that  I  would."  suggested 
Flora  in  a  determined  voice.  "I  would  never  speak  again  to 
that  awfully  odious  Captain.  The  mean  villain  !  to  want  a  girl 
for  his  wife  who  he  well  knows  despises  the  very  ground  he  walks 
upon." 

"  I  must  not  be  undutiful  to  my  father,  if  I  can  by  any  rea 
sonable  means  avoid  it,"  affirmed  Mary  solemnly  ;  "  since  the 
death  of  my  poor  mother,  he  has  no  one  in  the  world  but  me, 
and  he  too,  is  very  unhappy." 

"  But  if  he  loves  you  as  a  parent  should,  if  he  desires  your 
welfare,  why  does  he  not  banish  from  his  house,  that  abomina 
ble  bandit  ?"  argued  Flora. 

"  Alas,  by  some  strange  mystery,  what  it  may  be  I  cannot  so 
much  as  imagine,  his  reputation  and  even  his  life  are  in  Oar- 
lyle's  power." 

"  Mary,"  asked  the  other  earnestly,  "  have  you  really  no  idea 
what  the  mystery  is,  that  you  have  just  mentioned  ?" 

"  Not  in  the  least." 

"  Have  you  the  courage  to  learn  ?"  inquired  Flora,  in  quiver 
ing  tones. 

"  Tell  me,  speak  at  once  !  do  not  kill  me  with  anxiety,  if  you 
are  informed  on  the  subject,"  cried  Mary,  seizing  her  arm  with  a 
wild  gesture,  and  looking  down  into  her  eyes,  as  if  she  would 
sound  the  secret  depths  of  her  soul. 

"  I  fear  that  my  uncle,  too,  belongs  to  the  black  band,"  said 
Flora  in  a  faint  whisper. 

Mary  started  as  if  stunned  by  a  blow,  and  then  her  eyes 
flashed  with  sudden  anger,  as  she  cried  ;  "  this  charge  from  you, 
cousin,  I  never  could  have  expected  against  my  kind-hearted 
father,  who  has  educated  you  with  the  same  care  that  he  has 
bestowed  upon  me,  and  has  ever  treated  you  as  his  own  daughter. 
We  have  played  together  in  childhood,  slept  in  the  same  bed, 
and  learned  virtue,  goodness,  and  truth,  out  of  the  same 


UNCLE   JACK.  105 

books,  and  I  love  you  as  a  sister  ;  but  never  again  speak  a 
word  against  my  father,  if  you  would  retain  even  my  friend 
ship  I" 

"  I  told  you  for  your  own  good,"  said  Flora  compassionately, 
"  and  what  is  more,  your  uncle  and  all  your  cousins  think  exactly 
as  I  do." 

This  announcement  staggered  even  the  stubborn  incredulity  of 
Mary,  and  she  exclaimed,  "  forgive  my  harsh  language,  dearest 
Flora,  I  am  sure  you  would  not  willingly  wound  me  ;  I  am  nearly 
distracted  with  uncertainty,  and  scarcely  conscious  of  what  I  think 
or  say.  However,  I  can  never  believe  that  my  father  is  dishon 
est  ;  and  if  I  were  once  fairly  convinced,  there  would  remain 
nothing  for  me  to  do  but  to  die  1" 

"  And  break  your  true  love's  heart,"  suggested  Flora. 

"  What,  do  you  suppose  that  he,  the  son  of  a  noble  family, 
the  heir  of  a  lofty  name,  himself  the  perfect  ideal  of  honesty  and 
honor,  would  wed  an  outcast,  a  pariah,  the  child  of  a  common 
robber  ?"  exclaimed  Mary,  with  alarming  animation. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  other,  "  genuine  love  demands  neither 
fame  nor  fortune,  neither  respectability  in  friends  nor  stainless 
character  in  relations,  it  asks  nothing  but  perfect  truth  and 
purity  in  its  object.  The  rose  is  equally  beloved  in  whatever 
soil  it  may  grow,  and  the  starlight  of  heaven  loses  not  its  divine 
beauty  by  kissing  the  darkest  stream." 

The  soft  voice  of  her  cousin  soothed  the  heart  of  the  troubled 
girl,  like  the  strains  of  that  celestial  music,  which  charmed  away 
the  demon  that  haunted  the  soul  of  the  ancient  Hebrew  king, 
and  the  rain  of  gentle  tears  again  fell,  and  relieved  the  pressure 
of  thought  on  the  burning  brain. 

"  You  must  tell  my  father  all,"  urged  Flora  ;  "he  can  give 
you  far  better  advice  than  any  one  else,  and  he  loves  you  more, 
if  there  be  any  difference,  than  even  his  own  children.  Indeed, 
you  are  the  idol  of  us  all." 

"  I  will,"  assented  Mary  "  but  not  till  to-morrow." 


106       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

They  rejoined  the  family  circle,  and  Mary  immediately  became 
the  mark  for  kind  raillery  on  the  subject  of  her  handsome  gal 
lant,  Uncle  Jack  leading  the  assault,  and  the  old  lady  in  the 
spectacles  and  snowy  cap  bringing  up  the  rear,  and  cheering 
through  the  smoke  of  her  own  pipe. 

How  strange  is  this  universal  interest  felt  by  the  old  and 
young,  by  all  conditions  and  classes  in  the  fate  of  lovers.  And 
if  there  can  be  anything  on  earth  more  beautiful  than  the 
divine  passion  itself,  it  is  this  mysterious  and  contagions  sympa 
thy,  which  it  never  fails  to  excite.  The  vision  of  two  young 
and  beautiful  beings  living  alone  in  the  lovelight  of  each  other's 
eyes  is  sufficient  to  electrify  the  coldest  hearts,  and  illumine  the 
withered  brows  of  age  with  gayest  smiles.  Love  must  ever  be 
all  powerful,  because  the  whole  world  takes  its  part  I 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   TWO   DUELS. 

THE  natural  and  necessary  consequences  of  Major  Morrow's 
effort  to  organize  his  grand  company  of  Lynchers,  developed 
themselves  with  alarming  and  horrible  rapidity,  soon  after  the 
midnight  meeting  previously  noticed.  For,  although  the  mem 
bers  present  had,  on  that  occasion,  pledged  their  honor  to  invio 
lable  secrecy,  it  could  scarcely  be  expected,  that  among  so  large 
a  number,  actuated  by  different  and  even  opposite  motives,  all 
without  exception,  should  keep  the  vow;  and  accordingly,  before 
the  sunset  of  the  ensuing  day,  the  rumor  spread,  with  the  usual 
exaggerations,  like  a  sudden  conflagration  in  the  prairies,  and 
startled  the  community  as  the  unexpected  shock  of  an  earthquake. 
There  were  three  classes  affected  by  it,  the  black  band  of  rogues 
and  robbers,  unfortunately  too  numerous  :  the  lynchers,  embra 
cing  many  well-meaning  persons,  who  saw  no  other  method  of 
securing  their  property,  save  this  desperate  resort  to  the  furious 
force  of  the  mob,  and  including,  besides,  all  the  imflammable 
elements  of  the  frontier,  men  of  wild  passions,  delighting  in  war 
from  the  pure  love  of  strife  and  bloodshed  ;  and  lastly,  that  hon 
est  and  intelligent  portion  of  society,  who  prefer  almost  any  evils 
under  the  form  of  law  and  order,  to  the  terrors  that  march  in  the 
train  of  anarchy;  and  some  of  the"se  had  been  already  implicated 
with  the  bandits,  by  the  pretended  revelations  of  Bob  Bennet  and 
parson  Cole. 

10T 


108  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TAN  AH  A. 

It  is  impossible  to  paint  the  scenes  of  universal  excitement, 
which  quickly  followed.  The  various  parties  in  all  haste  pre 
pared  their  arms,  and  held  their  secret  assemblies,  to  arrange  for 
the  impending  crisis.  Even  the  most  sober  citizens  never  ven 
tured  beyond  their  own  door-sills,  without  rifles  on  their  shoul 
ders,  or  a  formidable  supply  of  pistols  in  their  pockets  ;  while  the 
more  ardent  and  reckless  saddled  their  horses,  and  sought  the 
most  public  places,  to  dare  and  defy  their  foes,  at  once,  to  the 
worst.  The  agitation  was  more  intense,  and  the  danger  to  social 
tranquillity  far  greater,  than  at  any,  even  the  darkest,  hour  of 
the  Texan  Revolution.  An  inroad  of  the  Comanches  could  not 
have  produced  half  such  bitter  and  bloody  results.  The  first  col 
lision  happened  in  Shelby  ville,  and  as  that  was  the  picture  of  many 
similar  affairs,  I  may  be  pardoned  for  detailing  it  at  some  length. 

On  the  third  morning  after  the  first  meeting  of  the  lynchers, 
as  mentioned  in  a  previous  chapter,  the  county-seat  was  swarm 
ing  with  excited  masses,  consisting  mostly  of  young  men,  and 
such  as  had  distinguished  themselves  by  their  prowess  in  the 
campaigns  against  the  Mexicans,  in  battles  with  the  Indians,  or 
else  in  still  more  deadly  nnd  desperate  combats  on  the  miscalled 
field  of  honor.  They  filled  the  public  square,  they  gathered  in 
small  groups  around  the  corners  of  the*eourt-house,  and  in  the 
suburbs  of  the  village,  conversing  in  low  tones,  but  with  flashing 
eyes  and  violent  gestures,  while  the  air  generally  resounded  with 
a  deep,  angry,  ominous  hum,  like  the  noise  of  a  bee-hive,  which 
has  been  suddenly  struck  by  a  volley  of  stones. 

The  groceries,  however,  presented  the  scenes  of  most  fearful 
excitement,  and  every  second  log-cabin  in  the  place  seemed  to 
boast  its  altar,  erected  for  the  special  worship  of  the  jolly  wine- 
god  ;  and  every  few  minutes,  the  different  groups  of  interlocutors 
in  the  streets,  rushed  to  these  shrines,  for  the  purpose  of  re-kin 
dling  the  fires  of  their  enthusiasm  and  wrath. 

Among  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  desperadoes  present,  were 
three  young  brothers  by  the  name  of  Minton,  the  nephews  of  the 


THE   TWO   DUELS.  109 

famous  Major  Morrow,  children  of  his  twin-sister,  and  demon 
strating  their  relationship  to  the  chief  of  the  lynchers,  by  forms 
of  strength  and  souls  of  thoughtless  daring,  not  at  all  inferior  to 
his  own.  For,  although,  the  oldest  of  these  hopeful  youths  had 
barely  numbered  twenty-four  summers,  and  the  youngest  but 
twenty,  each  one  had  already  slain  his  man,  the  first,  in  a  duel 
with  rifles,  the  second  with  revolvers,  and  the  third  with  the 
bowie-knife.  Indeed,  from  their  inseparable  union,  as  they 
always  appeared  in  public  together,  as  well  as  from  their  amazing 
muscular  force  and  cruel  ferocity,  they  had  become  the  terror  of 
the  bravest  in  the  backwoods,  and  his  courage  must  be  truly 
astonishing,  who  did  not  shrink  from  an  encounter  with  Tom, 
Bill,  or  Ben  Minton;  for  the  hero  might  succeed  in  vanquishing  one, 
but  knew  very  well,  that  even  then,  the  battle  would  be  only  just 
begun,  as  he  must,  as  a  matter  of  course,  still  fight  the  other  two. 

Nobody  was  better  aware  of  the  fear  which  they  had  univer 
sally  inspired,  than  the  brothers  themselves,  and,  accordingly,  in 
reliance  upon  this,  and  their  undaunted  prowess,  they  marched 
about  in  every  direction,  with  an  air  of  scornful  bravado,  utter 
ing  frightful  menaces  against  all  opponents  of  lynch-law,  and 
particularly  against  all  personal  foes  of  their  uncle.  Every  cir 
cle  of  animated  talkers  broke  up  and  dispersed  at  their  approach, 
and  the  dram-shops  became  instantly  silent  when  their  huge, 
leather-dressed  forms  darkened  the  door.  Thus  encouraged, 
their  friends,  the  regulators,  assumed  a  threatening  and  boister 
ous  demeanor,  which  cowed,  at  the  same  time,  both  the  robbers 
and  the  lovers  of  order,  who  began,  at  length,  to  abandon  the 
field,  when  an  accident  occurred  to  precipitate  the  conflict. 

The  Mintons  were  drinking  in  a  large  log  grocery,  which 
stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  public  square  immediately  oppo 
site  to  the  court-house  door,  when  they  noticed  the  entrance  of  a 
youth,  some  nineteen  years  of  age,  whose  intelligent  countenance, 
and  rich  fashionable  cloth,  denoted  more  respectability  and 
mental  culture  than  the  common,  coarse  crowd  around  the  bar. 


110  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

The  brothers  exchanged  a  look  of  murderous  import,  and  Tom 
addressed  the  new  comer  in  language  of  rude  irony  :  "  I'm  glad 
to  see  you,  Mr.  Albert  Moore.  Wont  you  take  a  smile  ?  Folks 
ought  to  drink  what  hain't  got  long  to  live,  sich  as  nigger  thieves 
and  land  pirates  1" 

"  Do  you  intend  to  apply  either  of  those  epithets  to  me  ?" 
asked  the  other  sternly,  as  all  the  bright  blood  hastily  left  his 
face  and  temples. 

"What  else  ar'  you  but  the  cussed  cub  of  an  old  land-pirate  ?" 
thundered  Tom,  bringing  down  his  fist,  like  the  stroke  of  a 
sledge-hammer  on  the  counter,  which  made  the  bottles  and 
glasses  ring  again  ;  "  Hain't  yer  daddy,  the  judge,  worse  nor 
a  robber  ?  Hain't  he  bought  up  all  the  country  as  a  spekerlator, 
and  not  satisfied  with  that,  jined  thq  rogues  inter  the  bargin  ?" 

"  It  is  false  1"  muttered  young  Moore,  between  his  clenched 
teeth. 

"  I  never  allows  nobody  to  give  me  that  word,"  vociferated 
the  giant  ;  "git  yer  friend,  quick  now,  fur  we  must  settle  this 
ere  matter  with  weepons." 

"  You  do  not  surely  expect  me  to  fight  such  a  fellow  as  you  !" 
answered  the  other  in  accents  of  measureless  scorn. 

"And  why  not,  you  'tarnal  coward?"  interrogated  Tom, 
foaming  with  rage,  and  grinding  his  teeth  like  a  wild  boar. 

"  Because  you  are  not  a  gentleman,"  said  Moore  disdainfully. 

"  Eh  I  you  think  to  kiver  up  yer  craven  carkiss  with  a  blanket 
of  dignity  1"  replied  Minton  with  a  fiendish  sneer  ;  "  now  look, 
boys,  how  I'll  ruffle  the  feathers  of  the  peacock,  and  put  him 
below  the  level  of  the  meanest  rooster  in  the  barn-yard  ;"  and 
he  dashed  a  glass  of  brandy  in  the  other's  eyes,  shouting,  "  ye'll 
fight  now,  I  guess  I" 

The  young  man  wiped  the  liquor  from  his  face,  with  a  silk 
pocket-handkerchief,  and  hissed  through  lips  white  as  snow,  but 
rigid  as  marble  ;  "  yes,  I  will  meet  you,  when,  where,  and  with 
what  weapons  you  please." 


THE   TWO   DUELS.  Ill 

"  I'd  like  to  know  who  would  stand  the  second  of  sich  a  pol 
troon  as  you  ar',"  remarked  Tom,  casting  a  look  of  menace  on 
the  surrounding  throng,  trembling  beneath  his  glance. 

"  I  will,"  cried  a  ringing  voice  near  the  door,  and  a  stranger 
made  his  way  through  the  crowd,  and  with  a  show  of  extreme 
courtesy,  saluted  the  parties.  This  individual  was  a  man  of 
medial  stature,  somewhat  slender  in  his  form,  but  with  an 
appearance  of  wiry  elasticity,  indicating  the  most  active  and 
powerful  energy.  His  age  might  be  about  thirty,  yet  he  seemed 
much  younger,  from  the  unusual  fairness  of  his  complexion,  and 
the  bright  golden  lustre  of  his  hair,  as  well  as  from  the 
mischievous,  mirthful  twinkle  of  his  vivid  blue  eyes.  His  coun 
tenance  denoted  reckless  bravery,  with  cool  self-possession,  and 
would  have  been  very  beautiful,  but  for  the  sensual,  animal 
expression  of  his  sneering  purple  lips. 

"  Well,  gallant  knights  of  the  tourney,"  said  the  stranger, 
smiling,  so  as  to  disclose  as  fine  a  set  of  ivory  as  ever  glittered 
in  a  human  mouth  ;  "  I  am  a  romantic  lover  of  fair  play,  and 
stand  always  ready  to  be  the  friend  of  any  gentleman  who  needs 
such  an  article." 

"  Who  the  devil  are  you  ?"  exclaimed  Tom  Minton,  in  aston 
ishment  at  the  other's  careless  audacity. 

"  Lieutenant  Curran  of  the  Rifle  Rangers,  a  minion  of  the 
moon  and  muses,  and  a  special  favorite  both  of  Mars  and  Yenus,  a 
shooter  of  bullets  and  bon-mots,  and  a  devotee  of  poetry,  as  well 
as  powder  ;  at  your  humble  service,  sir,  if  you  wish  anything  in 
my  line." 

"  Shet  yer  fly-trap,  or  I'll  do  it  fur  you,"  retorted  Tom, 
brutally  ;  "are  you  going  to  be  the  second  of  Albert  Moore, 
that's  the  question  ?" 

"  As,  to  be,  or  not  to  be,  is  the  question,"  said  Lieutenant 
Curran,  with  the  air  of  a  mock  tragedian,  "  as  I  have  the  natu 
ral  horror  of  an  air-pump  for  -the  vacuum  of  non-existence, 
I  answer,  without  hesitation,  to  be." 


112  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

"  Well,  then,  here  is  my  friend,  Mike  Johnson.  Fix  up  the 
tricks  in  a  hurry,  for  I'm  dyin'  to  git  at  it,"  urged  Tom,  with 
tokens  of  impatience. 

The  terms  being  speedily  arranged,  the  parties,  attended  by 
an  immense  concourse,  marched  a  short  distance  out  of  the 
village,  and  took  their  stations  sixty  yards  apart,  to  combat  with 
rifles.  The  multitude,  nearly  equally  divided  in  their  opposite 
predilections,  gazed  upon  the  scene  with  the  utmost  anxiety,  as 
if  to  divine  the  final  result  of  the  approaching  civil  war,  from  the 
bloody  issue  of  this  first  battle.  A  profound  and  solemn  silence 
reigned  over  the  field,  as  the  duellists  stood  with  the  muzzles  of 
their  guns  rested  on  the  ground,  and  the  other  ends  in  their 
hands  waiting  for  the  awful  signal. 

The  contrast  between  both  the  principals  and  their  seconds 
was  of  the  most  striking  character.  Tom  Minton  looked  like  a 
great  red-haired  giant,  coarse-featured  and  freckled-faced,  with 
his  lowering  visage  still  more  frightfully  deformed  by  the 
passions  of  rage  and  revenge,  which  shed  a  fierce  lurid  light 
upon  his  countenance.  Any  one  could  see,  at  a  glance,  that  he 
was  determined  to  kill  his  antagonist.  His  friend,  Mike  John 
son,  a  large  young  man  in  leather,  with  a  benevolent  face,  in 
vain  implored  him  to  spare  the  poor  boy,  who  was  well-known 
to  be  the  idol  of  his  father's  family.  To  every  suggestion  and 
plea  of  pity,  the  brute  replied,  "  I'll  do  it,  or  die  !" 

On  the  contrary,  Albert  Moore  was  a  mere  youth,  with  fair 
delicate  features,  entirely  beardless,  and  beautiful  as  those  of  a 
woman.  His  bright  auburn  hair,  falling  in  graceful  curls  around 
his  slight,  symmetrical  shoulders,  gleamed  in  the  pure  sunlight*ot 
spring,  like  fine  threads  of  gold  ;  but  his  deep,  azure  eyes  shone 
with  a  calm,  steady  lustre  of  the  most  chivalrous  bravery,  without 
so  much  as  a  single  ray  of  malice.  "  I  have  the  word,"  whispered 
Curran,  as  he  placed  him  in  position  ;  "  aim  low,  and  pull  the 
trigger  the  moment  when  the  sights  catch  any  part  of  hia 
form." 


THE   TWO   DUELS.  113 

At  length,  the  lieutenant  called  out  in  clear,  ringing  tones, 
that  startled  the  hearers,  like  the  sudden  blast  of  a  trumpet  : — 
"  Gentlemen,  are  you  ready?" 

"  Ready,"  replied  Moore,  in  a  voice  sweetly  tranquil  as  the 
chimes  of  a  bell. 

"  Ready,"  thundered  Minton,  in  accents  deafening  as  the  roar 
of  a  drum  in  battle. 

"  Fire — one — two — three  !" 

A.t  the  syllable  "  one,"  there  might  be  seen  two  jets  of  bright 
red  flame,  and  then  two  wreaths  of  blue  smoke  at  the  muzzles 
of  the  guns  ;  there  were  heard  two  sharp  peals,  sounding  simul 
taneously,  and  the  vast  throng  of  spectators  uttered  a  wild 
cry  of  mingled  joy  and  horror;  in  accordance  with  the  sympathies 
of  the  respective  factions.  Minton  escaped  with  a  slight  scratch 
of  the  skin  on  his  breast,  while  young  Moore  dropped  to  the 
earth  like  a  lump  of  lead,  the  bullet  of  his  adversary  having  pen 
etrated  his  left  eye. 

The  victor  was  escorted  back  to  the  village,  with  boisterous 
plaudits,  by  the  lynchers,  while  a  few  friends  bore  the  dead  boy 
to  the  residence  of  his  father,  some  half  a  mile  out  of  town. 
What  a  vision  for  those  fond  parents,  and  for  that  beautiful  blue- 
eyed  twin-sister,  who  loved  him  as  her  own  life. 

"  Moore's  second  turned  pallid  as  the  corpse  at  his  feet,  when 
he  witnessed  the  unexpected  result,  and  muttered  between  his 
teeth,  "  he  shall  atone  for  this  before  the  day  is  an  hour  older!" 
But  at  the  instant,  Captain  Carlyle  rode  up,  and  beckoning  him 
to  one  side,  inquired  anxiously,  "  Curran,  what  has  happened? 
tell  me  quick  all  about  it."  The  other  briefly  detailed  the  facts 
previously  related. 

"  The  thing  works  admirably,77  said  the  captain,  with  a  delighted 
countenance.  "Judge  Moore  and  his  friends  will,  now,  all  take 
part  against  the  lynchers,  so  will  Sol  Tuttle,  and  if  they  dare 
the  venture,  we  can  give  them  battle  in  the  open  field.  But  one 
thing  more  is  necessary.  To  encourage  our  followers  and  strike 


114       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AHA. 

terror  into  our  foes,  you  must  pick  a  quarrel  with  Toin  Minton, 
their  big  bully,  aud  pistol  him  like  a  dog.  * 

"1  am  more  than  willing  to  fight  him,  and  avenge  the  ashes 
of  the  pretty  youth  that  he  has  murdered,"  answered  Curran  ; 
"  I  can  wing  him,  make  a  cripple  of  him  for  life,  or  administer 
any  moderate  chastisement  of  the  sort,  but  I  cannot  kill  him  ; 
such  an  act  would  be  most  unpoetical,  and  besides,  you  know,  I 
have  conscientious  scruples  against  capital  punishment,  as 
jurors  say  when  they  want  to  get  released  from  the  panel." 

"  Such  a  course  is  dangerous  in  the  extreme,"  argued  Carlyle, 
"  it  might  do  in  the  case  of  a  common  man  ;  but  Minton  is  a 
dead  shot,  as  you  have  just  seen,  and  if  you  attempt  the  gen 
teel  game  with  him,  you  will  only -throw  away  your  life,  like  a 
fool." 

"  Duke  est  desipere  in  loco,"  murmured  Curran,  with  comic  ear 
nestness. 

"  Well,  have  it  as  you  like,"  said  the  captain,  in  a  tone  of 
irritation  ;  "  but  be  in  a  hurry  about  it,  before  they  get  too 
drunk.  You  will  find  them  in  dog  Green's  grocery;  and  I  will 
drop  in  at  the  proper  moment.  Hasten  the  affair  as  much  as 
possible." 

"  I'll  put  a  girdle  round  the  earth  in  forty  minutes,"  answered 
the  lieutenant,  as  he  flew  away  to  accomplish  his  perilous  mis 
sion.  When  he  entered  the  temple  of  Bacchus,  the  hero  of  the 
lynchers  and  his  satellites,  were  in  the  act  of  touching  their 
glasses,  as  a  preliminary  to  a  grand  libation.  Tom  Minton 
observed  the  advent  of  Curran,  and  exclaimed  in  a  rude  voice  : 
"  Come  and  take  a  drink  ;  for  though  we  laid  out  yer  friend 
nicely,  that's  no  reasQn  why  you  shouldn't  enjoy  yourself ; 
becaze  it  may  be  yer  turn  next ;  who  knows  ?" 

"Vivimus  dum  vivamus,"  said  Curran,  with  an  air  of  affected 
anger. 

•"  Do  you  mean  to  say,  damn  us  ?"  vociferated  Tom,  growing 
livid  with  rage. 


THE   TWO   DUELS.  115 

"Do  you  mean  to  say,  damn  us  ?"  echoed  the  satellites,  with 
equal  fury. 

"  If  you  do  not  understand  the  language,  gentlemen,  you  will 
have  to  swear  an  interpreter,"  replied  the  lieutenant,  with  a 
disdainful  smile. 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  spile  yer  face  ?"  cried  Tom,  raising  his 
tumbler  to  repeat  his  insult  of  the  morning  against  this  new  foe, 
and  thus  to  throw  the  onus  of  the  challenge  upon  his  shoulders, 
and  thereby  gain  the  choice  of  weapons.  But  quick  as  a  thought, 
Curran  snatched  the  glass  from  his  hand,  and  tossed  the  con 
tents  in  the  giant's  face.  He  then  slipped  like  an  eel  through 
the  crowd  behind  him,  and  passed  out  of  the  door,  while  howl 
ing  awful  curses,  like  an  army  of  devils,  the  lynchers  rushed 
after  him. 

They  paused,  however,  with  some  symptoms  of  fear,  when 
they  perceived,  not  only  the  lieutenant,  but  Captain  Carlyle 
also,  confronting  them,  each  armed  with  a  couple  of  revolvers. 
"  I  demand  the  satisfaction  of  a  gentleman,"  shouted  Minton,  in 
tones  almost  inarticulate  with  mingled  mortification  and  fury. 

"You  shall  have  it,  noble  knight  of  the  bloody  hand," 
responded  Curran,  with  a  profound  obeisance  ;  "  here  is  my 
friend." 

"  And  here  is  mine,"  said  Tom  ;  "  what  is  your  weapons  ?" 

"  Duelling  pistols,  at  ten  paces." 

"Then,  let  us  git  at  it  ;  right  here  in  the  square  will  do  as 
well  as  any  place,"  cried  Tom,  with  his  usual  impatience. 

"  0,  that  will  be  beautiful,"  exclaimed  Curran,  "  with  the 
bright  eyes  of  the  ladies  glancing  at  us  through  the  windows, 
like  houris  from  the  portals  of  Paradise  ;  we  cannot  have  the 
heart  to  hurt  one  another!'7 

"•I  wish  I  may  bust  my  biler,  i^I  don't  smash  your  head," 
shouted  Tom,  in  a 'terrible  voice. 

"  O,  you  unromantic  savage,  you  wild  man  of  the  woods,  you 
hairy  demon  of  the  desert  !  how  can  you  harbor  such  unchristiau 


116       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

thoughts  ?  Tantane,  animis  ccdestilus  ira  ?"  said  Curran  ;  "as 
for  my  part,  I  will  only  clip  the  wings  of  my  golden  eagle,  bring 
him  down  a  little  lower,  so  the  sun  shall  no  longer  dazzle  his 
eyes." 

The  ground  was  then  measured  off,  and  the  parties  went 
to  their  separate  stations.  Carlyle  having  won  the  signal,  whis 
pered  in  Curran's  ear,  "  See  you  not  the  devil  in  Tom's  eye  ?  If 
you  do  not  kill  him  at  the  first  fire,  I  would  not  give  a  feather 
for  your  life." 

"  Then,  let  my  name  live  in  the  pantheon  of  history,"  said  the 
other,  with  a  laugh. 

Perhaps  there  never  was  a  more  wonderful  duel  witnessed, 
since  men  learned  to  rend  each  other's  bleeding  bosoms  with 
sharp  steel  or  hissing  lead.  All  sides  of  the  square,  except  the 
points  particularly  exposed  to  the  muzzles  of  the  pistols,  literally 
swarmed  with  masculine  forms,  while  the  women  and  boys,  some 
what  more  timid,  stood  in  the  rear,  or  peeped  from  the  windows; 
and  justices  of  the  peace,  constables,  and  sheriffs,  mingled  among 
the  spectators.  Numerous  heavy  bets  were  staked  on  the  result, 
the  lynchers  backing  Tom,  and  most  of  the  others  sustaining 
the  lieutenant. 

The  antagonists  also  seemed  much  more  equally  matched  than 
in  the  combat  of  the  morning  ;  and  indeed,  if  any  difference  could 
be  detected,  the  advantage  appeared  to  favor  Curran.  His  air  was 
that  of  a  fop  dressed  for  a  frolic.  He  kept  his  place  firmly,  with 
a  smile  of  ineffable  disdain  upon  his  handsome  features,  and  hum 
ming  a  gay  tune  with  the  utmost  composure.  This  amazing 
nonchalance  was  the  more  singular,  as  the  fixed  ferocity  of  Min- 
ton's  countenance  looked  positively  appalling,  and  his  fatal  skill 
as  a  duellist  had  been  abundantly  proved  in  the  previous  con 
flict. 

At  last  the  word  was  given;  and  at  the  close  of  the  monosylla 
ble,  "  fire,"  before  its  final  echo  had  died  on  the  air,  one  sharp 
report  thrilled  the  ears  of  the  bystanders,  followed  by  a  cry  of 


THE   TWO   DUELS.  117 

mingled  pain  and  rage,  furious  as  the  yell  of  some  savage  beast ; 
and  the  arm  of  Tom  Minton  fell  to  his  side,  shattered  horribly 
at  the  elbow.  The  discharge  of  Curran  had  been  so  quick,  and 
his  aim  so  true,  that  the  bully  of  the  lynchers  had  no  time  to 
pull  his  trigger,  and  the  pistol  remained  loaded.  The  faction 
hostile  to  the  mob  shouted  acclamations  until  they  were  hoarse, 
and  no  other  encounters  happened  during  the  day.  Indeed,  the 
leaders  of  both  parties  soon  left  the  village,  and  the  subordinates 
and  members  imitated  the  prudence  of  their  example. 

It  has  been  said  a  hundred  times,  by  persons  who  never  saw 
a  pistol  fired,  that  the  duel  is  no  test  of  human  courage.  If  the 
remark  be  confined  to  that  loftiest  sort  of  heroism,  moral  bravery, 
which  consists  in  defying  the  coalesced  opinions  of  mankind, 
in  obedience  to  the  dictates  of  conscience,  that  god  within  the 
bosom,  and  in  favor  of  the  right  cause,  the  fact  is  perfectly  true. 
But  if  the  term,  courage,  is  intended  to  denote  the  mere  physical 
quality,  the  attribute  which  we  possess  in  common  with  most 
animals,  the  proposition  is  utterly  false.  The  prowess  is  of  the 
same  specific  character  with  that  of  the  duellist,  and  often  not 
even  superior  in  degree,  which  has  made  the  hero  and  the  derni- 
deity  since  the  dawn  of  universal  history.  It  is  this  which  has 
created  the  Nimrods  and  the  Napoleons  of  the  world,  which  has 
thundered  on  the  land  and  sea,  scaled  the  parapet,  stormed  the 
bastion,  breasted  billows  of  fire  and  hurricanes  of  leaden  hail, 
and  waded  through  oceans  of  blood  and  carnage,  to  glory  or  the 
grave  I 


CHAPTER  X. 

REVENGE. 

ON  the  morning  subsequent  to  the  duels  in  Shelbyville,  as 
related  in  the  last  chapter,  Captain  Carlyle  was  pacing  back  and 
forward  in  his  library,  with  an  air  and  attitude  of  profound 
thought  not  unmixed  with  signs  of  trouble  and  anxiety.  Both 
his  memory  and  imagination  seemed  to  be  unusually  excited,  if 
we  might  judge  by  the  few  fragments  of  soliloquy,  that  dropped 
occasionally  from  his  unconscious  lips. 

"  What  a  strange  destiny  has  been  mine  1"  he  said  with  a  sigh 
of  unutterable  sadness.  "  How  brilliant  was  my  boyhood,  when 
I  bathed  my  very  feet  in  beauty,  brushing  the  diamond  dews 
from  the  purple  broom  of  a  hundred  hills  1  How  radiant  the 
promise  of  my  early  and  most  precocious  youth,  where  the  twin- 
worlds  of  love  and  poetry  opened  their  golden  gates  to  my 
wondering  eyes,  revealing  the  present  and  the  far-off  future, 
glittering  with  rainbow  light,  and  my  young  soul  had  wings  to 
soar  above  the  summits  of  the  celestial  mountains,  and  mingle  in 
fancy  with  the  immortal  ones,  the  undying  names  in  the  pantheon 
of  history  I  O,  what  a  vision  then  was  the  emerald  green  of  the 
earth,  more  glorious  in  its  lustre  than  any  Persian  pearl,  and  the 
heavens  with  their  burning  blue,  sprinkled  with  gems  of  fire,  and 
streaming  with  divine  auroras  !  But  brighter  than  a  thousand 
suns,  and  more  wildly  beautiful  than  all  the  stars  that  live  in  the 
evening  air,  were  the  day-dreams  of  the  angel,  Hope,  in  the 

118 


REVENGE.  119 

depths  of  my  innocent  heart  !  How  I  flew  over  the  radiant 
realms  of  science,  finding  no  problems  too  lofty  for  the  sweep  of 
my  imagination,  and  none  too  profound  for  the  piercing  glances 
of  my  intellect  !  How  I  threaded  the  labyrinthine  mazes 
of  logic,  politics,  and  the  law,  and  what  was  dreariest  labor  to 
others,  seemed  but  pleasure  and  pastime  to  me  1  How  I  shook 
the  forum,  on  my  advent,  with  the  thunders  of  an  eloquence  that 
made  the  very  judges  tremble  on  the  bench,  and  swayed  the 
juries  with  a  power  irresistible  as  the  spells  of  magic  !  Until 
the  fatal  day,  when  the  demon  entered  my  soul,  when  passion 
replaced  love,  and  the  red  light  of  hellish  guilt  threw  an  eclipse 
of  blood  over  all  the  luminaries  of  the  earth  and  sky  ! 

"  And  what  am  I  now  ?"  he  continued,  with  a  look  of  mingled 
rage  and  horror,  grinding  his  teeth  like  a  madman  ;  "an  outlaw, 
a  criminal  of  the  deepest  dye,  a^  thing  abhorred  by  men,  and 
even  hated  by  my  own  heart !  enveloped  in  the  meshes  of  sin 
and  danger,  created  by  my  cunning,  at  once,  the  victim  and 
avenger  of  the  wrongs  that  I  have  inflicted  upon  others  ;  for 
every  cruel  blow,  rebounding,  has  left  its  dagger  in  my  bleeding 
bosom.  Oh  woman  !  of  wild,  bewildering,  fatal  beauty,  it  was 
thy  hand,  which  dashed  down  the  gleaming  cloud-castle  of  my 
golden  hopes,  and  called  up  from  the  boiling  whirlpool  of  unfath 
omable  hell,  this  midnight  spectre  of  measureless  despair,  with 
eyes  of  infernal  fire  to  haunt  me  for  evermore  I" 

He  paused,  and  a  hardened,  defiant  expression  gained  the 
ascendancy  in  his  countenance,  as  he  justified  himself  :  "And  yet 
I  had  no  power  to  have  followed  a  different  path  in  life.  What 
an  idle  jargon,  a  pale  ray  of  metaphysical  moonshine  is  the 
boasted  theory  of  human  freedom.  Could  I  resist  the  enchant 
ment  of  her  unrivalled  beauty,  or  quench  the  blaze  in  my  blood, 
kindled  by  the  fire  of  those  fascinating  eyes  ?  Can  the  pine-tree 
repel  the  lightning  of  heaven,  or  the  powder  refuse  to  flash  at 
the  torch  of  consuming  flame  ?  Can  the  will  act  without  an 
object  ?  and  did  not  every  motive  of  my  life,  every  thought,  hope, 


120        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AHA. 

and  feeling,  vanish  away  before  the  magical  light  of  love  on  her 
rosy  lips?  Cau  the  bird  break  the  diabolical  charm  in  the 
bright  eyes  of  the  rattlesnake,  or  the  bee  forsake  the  honey-dew 
of  the  blossom  ?  Can  the  star  wander  at  will  from  its  shining 
way  in  the  sky,  or  the  waves  of  the  sea  be  silent  when  the  hur 
ricane  tosses  their  white  foam  among  the  clouds  ?  No,  from  the 
silver  planet  that  is  chained  by  immutable  attraction  to  the  fiery 
chariot  of  the  suii,  to  the  reptiles  of  our  race,  that  writhe  in  the 
dust  and  die,  all  creatures  are  governed  by  the  evolutions  of  an 
everlasting  law,  universal  as  space,  unalterable  as  time,  and  fixed 
eternally  on  the  deep  foundations  of  a  merciless  destiny  without 
beginning  or  end.  And  it  was  the  same  uncontrollable  fatality, 
which  transformed  my  early  visions  of  -glory  into  the  maddening 
dream  of  passion,  and  that  again  into  the  horrors  of  unutterable 
hatred.  Yes,  I  loathe  her  now,  more  than  I  ever  loved  ;  but 
yet  I  fear  her  also,  the  only  thing  that  I  ever  found  to  fear  on 
earth  I" 

Suddenly,  a  servant  entered  the  door,  and  announced  ;  "Mas- 
sa  Carlyle,  Colonel  Miles  am  in  the  parlor." 

"  Tell  him,  that  I  wish  to  see  him  here,  in  the  library," 
answered  the  captain  ;  and  the  moment  afterwards,  the  visitor 
made  his  appearance.  The  colonel  was  a  strong,  well-propor 
tioned  man  of  middle  age,  with  angular,  dark-complexioned 
features,  and  brown  eyes,  deeply  imbedded  beneath  broad, 
projecting  brows,  and  a  low,  but  massive  forehead.  His  coun 
tenance  indicated  much  intelligence,  more  cunning,  and  consider 
able  bravery,  yet  without  sufficient  firmness.  He  saluted  the 
other,  with  a  show  of  cordiality,  but  his  thin  cast-iron  mouth, 
twitching  nervously,  and  the  wandering  restlessness  of  his  small 
brown  eyes,  proved  that  he  expected  but  little  pleasure  from  the 
interview. 

Seating  himself,  Colonel  Miles  remarked  in  a  tone,  at  once, 
perplexed  and  apologetical  ;  "You  must  excuse  my  delay, 
captain  ;  I  received  your  urgent  note  yesterday  evening ;  but 


REVENGE.  121 

there  was  a  pressing  engagement  on  my  hands,  which  detained 
me  until  now." 

'*  There  can  be  no  matter  more  important  than  the  question 
of  life  in  affluence,  or  death  by  the  hemp  of  the  hangman," 
responded  Carlyle,  with  a  look  of  gloomy  menace,  that  caused 
the  other  to  grow  pale  and  tremble. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  captain  ?"  gasped  the  colonel  ;  "  do 
you  allude  to  any  new  danger  ?" 

"  None  to  me,  but  a  very  awful  one  to  you,"  said  Carlyle,  fix 
ing  his  fierce  black  eyes  sternly  upon  the  face  of  Miles,  with  a 
gleam  ominous  as  the  thrust  of  a  dagger. 

"  Speak,  what  is  it  ?"  articulated  the  colonel,  with  quivering 
lips,  livid  as  those  of  a  corpse. 

"It  is  simply  this,  that  I  will  have  your  neck  stretched  like 
that  of  a  dog,  if  you  dare  to  palter  any  longer  with  your  pro 
mise,"  declared  Carlyle,  in  a  voice  of  unwavering  resolution. 

"  How,  my  dear  captain,  can  you  be  so  unreasonable?"  depre 
cated  the  other,  in  tremulous  accents  ;  "  you  surely  cannot 
expect  me  to  accomplish  impossibilities.  At  the  present,-  Mary 
will  not  marry  you.  I  have  used  every  means  to  persuade  her; 
and  if  I  attempt  force,  she  will  certainly  commit  suicide." 

"  Then,  hand  her  over  to  me  ;  let  her  be  mine  without  the 
formality  of  a  wedding.  That  will  suit  me  just  as  well  as  the 
prattled  ceremony  of  the  long-visaged  priest,"  suggested  Carlyle, 
without  a  symptom  of  either  pity  or  shame. 

*'  What  1"  exclaimed  the  colonel,  stupified  with  astonishment 
and  horror,  "do  you  seriously  propose  to  me — to  her  own 
father,  this  revolting  deed  of  double-dyed  damnation,  this  black 
atrocity,  more  diabolical  than  any  on  record,  even  in  the  history 
of  hell  itself — to  plunge  my  only  child  into  the  bottomless  gulf 
of  everlasting  infamy?"  and  the  speaker  gave  a  murderous  glance 
at  the  hilt  of  his  bowie-knife,  but  he  perceived  that  the  fingers 
of  the  other  were  on  the  pistol  in  his  bosom,  and  changed  his 
bloody  purpose. 


122  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF    THE    TAN  AHA. 

"  You  are  pleased  to  be  eloquent  to-day,"  said  Carlyle,  with 
a  savage  sneer  ;  "  and  it  may  be  very  well  for  you  to  cultivate 
all  your  talents  as  an  orator  ;  for  so  help  me  Heaven,  you  will 
need  them  all  sooner  than  you  imagine.  This  very  hour,  I  will 
either  have  you  hung  outright,  or  send  you  back  to  New  Orleans 
there  to  stand  your  trial  for  burglary  and  murder.  I  will 
be  humane,  however,  you  may  choose  which  death  you  will 
die  !" 

"  Oh  !  captain,  do  not  talk  so,"  implored  tne  colonel,  with  an 
icy  shudder,  like  an  ague,  in  all  his  limbs  ;  "I  swear  solemnly, 
that  Mary  shall  be  your  wife  before  the  end  of  the  month  1" 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Carlyle  ;  "  then  you  must  go  to  your 
brother's,  and  bring  her  back  to-morrow.  The  danger  of  an 
outbreak  among  the  people  is  passed,  for  a  while ;  and  I  want  to 
see  my  affianced  bride." 

At  the  instant,  a  slight  sound,  resembling  a  numan  sigh,  was 
heard  in  a  small  eloset  which  opened  into  the  library.  The  cap 
tain  sprung  to  the  door,  but  found  it  securely  fastened.  He 
then  rung  the  bell  hastily,  and  inquired  of  a  bright  mulatto  girl, 
who  responded  to  the  summons,  "  Where  is  your  mistress  ?" 

"  Gone  out  to  walk,  as  she  does  every  morning  after  break 
fast." 

"  Where  is  the  key  of  this  closet  ?" 

"  Mistress  locked  up  the  white  cat  and  her  kittens,  and  took 
the  key  with  her." 

"That  accounts  for  the  noise,"  remarked  Carlyle  in  a  whis 
per  to  the  colonel ;  "  I  thought  it  was  Lucy,  and  then,  I  would 
have  been  under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  shooting  her,  or 
dying  myself  !" 

The  next  moment,  another  incident  occurred  to  interrupt  the 
conversation.  The  clattering  hoofs  of  a  horse  at  full  gallop, 
resounded  in  the  road,  ceased  in  the  yard,  and  the  gigantic 
figure  of  Tony  rushed  through  the  door,  revealing  a  countenance 
brimming  with  news  of  evil  import. 


REVENGE.  123 

"What  is  the  matter?"  cried  Miles  and  Carlyle  together; 
"  be  quick,  Tony,  tell  us  what  has  brought  you  here  ?" 

"  You  know,  massa,  that  you  sent  me  to  the  major's  to  keep 
an  eye  on  his  'ceedens  ;  well,  who  should  I  miscover  thar,  but 
that  Mr.  Bollum,  and  a  black  nigger  what's  name  am  Caesar. 
Well,  next  day,  Mr.  Bollum  went  away,  I  didn't  know  whar, 
and  left  Caesar  at  the  major's.  But  last  night  a  man  come  along, 
and  sez  that  Mr.  Bollum  am  at  Sol  Tattle's." 

Both  the  captain  and  colonel  bounded  to  their  feet,  with  an 
exclamation  of  auger  and  alarm.  "  But  that  am  not  all,  nor 
the  wust,"  continued  Tony:  "for  him  sez  that  Mr.  Bollum  and 
Miss  Mary  am  as  thick  as  three  in  a  bed,  and  Uncle  Jack  wants 
;ern  to  git  married  right  off." 

"  I  warned  you  not  to  take  her  there,"  shouted  Carlyle,  annex 
ing  a  horrible  curse;  "  and  now,  hasten,  ride  for  your  life,  and  be 
sure  that  you  bring  her  back,  dead  or  alive!  Yes,  and  I'll 
accompany  you.  Ho  !  there  Jim,  saddle  my  grey  horse  quickly 
as  possible." 

The  agitation  of  the  colonel  equalled  that  of  his  accomplice. 
He  raved,  fulminated  oaths,  and  wrung  his  hands,  exclaiming  : 
"  No  doubt,  my  pious  brother  has  managed  to  obtain  all  her 
secrets,  and  then  the  very  devil  will  be  to  pay,  for  he  is  as  stub 
born  as  a  mustang,  and  my  sweet  nephews  are  brave  as  bull-dogs, 
and  there  will  be  the  proud  Virginian  to  back  them  !" 

"  Upon  reflection,  I  cannot  possibly  attend  you,"  remarked 
Carlyle,  with  an  air  of  bitter  disappointment  ;  "  I  must  remain, 
to  learn  the  proceedings  of  the  lynchers  to-night,  and  I  advise 
you  to  play  the  fox  rather  than  the  lion.  If  necessary,  affect  to 
acquiesce  in  their  schemes,  and  invite  Boiling  to  return  with 
you.  I  will  undertake  to  find  the  means  of  silencing  his  pre 
tensions  for  ever  1" 

"  But  suppose,  that  the  girl  should  be  already  his  wife?" 
observed  the  other. 

"  That  will  make  no  difference.  It  will  be  only  the  easier 

t 


124       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AHA 

task  to  get  them  both  back.     I  would  as  soon  wed  a  widow  as 
a  virgin,"  answered  Carlyle. 

The  colonel  hurried  away,  and  shortly  afterwards,  the  captain 
also  mounted  his  horse,  and  departed.  The  moment  he  had  left, 
the  key  turned  in  the  door  of  the  closet  opening  into  the  library, 
and  Lucy  glided  out.  But  the  appearance  of  the  jealous  woman, 
having  found  her  darkest  fears  confirmed,  had  undergone  such  a 
mysterious  and  startling  change,  that  her  own  mother  would 
have  failed  to  recognize  the  daughter  of  her  bosom,  had  such  a 
fond  parent  been  alive  and  present.  Her  visage  was  mortally 
pale,  and  her  features  worked  as  if  in  a  fit  of  epilepsy.  Her 
dazzling  teeth  were  clinched  upon  her  livid  lips  until  the  red  blood 
flowed  in  drops,  staining  her  bosom  with  the  deepest  crimson, 
while  her  dark  eyes  rolled  wildly  like  those  of  a  maniac,  emitting 
arrows  of  flame,  lurid  and  awful  as  lightning  at  midnight.  Her 
slender  form  seemed  to  grow  taller  and  expand  in  dimension,  and 
the  muscles  of  her  neck  swelled  out  to  double  their  usual  pro 
portions  ;  but  all  her  nerves  were  calm  and  steady,  as  if  trans 
formed  by  unutterable  passion  into  fibres  of  steel.  She  poured 
out  a  tumbler  full  of  wine,  from  a  bottle  on  the  table,  carried  it 
to  her  mouth,  without  a  tremor,  and  drained  it  to  the  last 
drop. 

"  I  deserve  it  all,"  she  murmured  in  a  sepulchral  whisper  ; 
"  but  not  from  him  ;  not  from  this  devil  in  the  shape  of  man, 
who  seduced  me  from  my  home,  and  now  seeks  to  cast  me  off, 
like  a  worn-out  jewel  !  0,  fool  that  he  is,  to  deem  after 
all  which  I  have  done  for  him,  that  I  am  but  a  weak  wavering 
creature  of  common  clay,  a  thing  to  be  trampled  under  his  feet, 
and  treated  as  a  slave,  or  worse  still,  as  one  of  the  women  of  his 
own  country  1" 

"  He  talks  of  shooting  me,  for  fear  that  I  will  kill  him,"  she 

said  with  a  burst  of  fiendish  laughter  ;  "  fool  !  madman  1  does  he 

imagine  that  I  would  be  satisfied  with  such  a  vulgar  revenge, 

when  I   can   so  readily  command   so  many  infernal   tortures, 

t 


REVENGE.  125 

agonies  of  the  heart,  terrors  of  the  mind,  howling  furies  of  the 
imagination,  that  will  make  him  pray  for  death,  as  the  traveller 
in  burning  sands  begs  for  a  drop  of  water.  Ah  1  he  shall  die, 
but  it  must  be  by  slow  degrees.  His  soul's  light  must  perish  first. 
His  fortune  shall  take  wings,  and  all  his  friends  forsake  him. 
Every  plan  shall  fail,  every  hope  expire,  till  desolate,  defeated, 
poor,  and  very  humble,  he  shall  crawl  back  on  his  knees  to  me 
for  pity,  and  then  I  will  spit  upon  him,  and  spurn  him  away  like 
a  dog  ;  and  finally  deliver  him  over  to  the  gripe  of  the  hangman, 
and  dance  beneath  the  gallows-tree  !" 

A  dusky  form  darkened  the  door,  and  a  timid  voice  faltered  : 
"  Miss  Lucy,  may  I  come  in  ?" 

Her  countenance  instantly  changed  to  one  of  the  gayest  smiles, 
and  she  answered  in  accents  of  the  most  bewildering  sweet 
ness  ;  "Yes  ;  Comanche  Ben,  I  am,  indeed,  very  glad  to  see 
you." 

The  supreme  ugliness  of  the  individual,  who  now  entered, 
would  defy  all  delineation  by  either  language  or  pictorial  power. 
His  broad,  low,  massive  frame,  although  denoting  great 
strength,  and  really  possessing  much  activity,  was  horribly 
misshapen  with  crooked  bones  and  angles,  depriving  it  of 
all  comparison  with  any  specimen  of  the  animal  kingdom,  unless 
it  might  be  likened  to  that  of  a  lean  wolf  standing  on  its  hind 
legs.  His  face  was  still  worse,  revealing  the  bony  contour 
of  the  Indian  physiognomy,  increased,  however,  to  an  extreme 
that  looked  absolutely  hideous.  His  nose  had  been  eaten  away 
in  his  childhood  by  the  teeth  of  some  wild  beast,  and  perhaps 
this  might  be  considered  a  fortunate  circumstance,  removing 
what  otherwise  must  have  been  a  fatal  obstruction  to  the  organs 
of  vision,  as  his  snake-like  leering  eyes  crossed  each  other  almost 
at  right  angles. 

This  man  was,  indeed,  as  his  name  denoted,  a  native  Coman 
che,  who  had  been  captured  when  a  boy  by  the  hunters,  and 
brought  up  in  the  white  settlement ;  but  he  yet  retained  the 


126  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

complexion,  the  instincts,  and  many  of  the  habits  characteristic 
of  his  savage  origin. 

The  Indian  gazed  upon  the  smiling  face  of  the  beautiful 
woman,  who  had  greeted  him  with  such  unwonted  familiarity, 
and  his  countenance  betrayed,  at  once,  boundless  admiration, 
surprise,  and  suspicion.  He  was  at  a  loss  to  comprehend 
the  marvellous  transformation  from  her  former  insuppressible 
and  open  abhorrence,  to  this  aspect  of  manifest  kindness. 

Lucy  addressed  him  with  her  fascinating  voice  tuned  to 
its  most  musical  cadence  ;  "  I  wonder,  Ben,  why  you  have  never 
yet  thought  of  marrying." 

Had  a  thunderbolt  fallen  at  his  feet,  the  savage  could  not 
have  exhibited  more  profound  astonishment.  "Me  !"  he 
exclaimed,  and  his  form  quivered,  and  his  eyes  started,  as 
if  about  to  fly  from  their  sockets.  "  Me  marry  I"  he  repeated, 
as  if  the  conjunction  of  such  terms  announced  the  climax  of 
impossibilities. 

"  Yes,"  said  Lucy,  "  why  not  you  as  well  as  another  ?" 

"  Me  marry  !"  he  iterated  ;  "  me,  the  Indian  dog,  the  slave, 
that  every  one  scorns,  that  even  the  blackest  niggers  turn  away 
from  in  disgust  !" 

"  My  yellow  girl,  Betty,  would  make  you  a  very  pretty  wife," 
suggested  the  artful  woman,  marching  step  by  step  stealthily  to 
her  purpose. 

"  I  said  the  same  thing  to  Betty  once  myself,  and  she  nearly 
scalded  me  to  death,"  replied  the  Comanche,  shuddering  at  the 
painful  recollection. 

Lucy,  with  difficulty  restrained  a  laugh,  and  asked  in  tones  of 
simulated  fondness ;  "  Tell  me  the  truth,  Ben,  have  you  really 
never  loved  ?" 

The  hideous  creature  blushed  to  the  very  eyes,  but  he  did 
not  answer. 

"What  would  you  do  Ben,  to  win  the  woman  that  you 
loved  r 

i 


?.".. 

^.CY,  '--  -    - 

The  Indian  gazed  upon  the  smiling  face  of  the  beautiful  woman,  who  had  greeted 
him  with  such  unwonted  familiarity,  and  his  counten«..-.ne  betrayed  at  once,  boundless 
admiration,  surprise,  and  suspicion.  He  was  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  the  marvellous 
transformation  from  her  former  insuppressible  and  open  abhorrence,  to  this  aspect  of 
manifest  kindness. — PAGE  126. 


REVENGE.  127 

What  would  I  not  do  ?"  he  cried  with  sudden  enthusiasm  : 


"it  would  be  for  her  to  give  the  order,  and  I  would  obey  it 
without  question  ;  I  would  scalp  my  own  father,  slay  my  mother, 
or  murder  my  best  friend  !" 

"  You  love  me,  Ben,"  said  Lucy,  casting  upon  the  wretch 
a  look  that  set  every  drop  of  blood  in  his  veins  on  fire,  and 
deprived  him  of  the  power  of  speech. 

"  Yes,"  she  continued,  "  I  have  long  known  it,  and  if  I  could 
be  sure  that  you  would  do  everything  which  I  might  command, 
you  could  at  some  future  day,  claim  me  for  your  wife." 

The  Comanche  trembled  violently  in  every  limb,  as  if  all  his 
nerves  were  swept  by  a  hurricane  of  electric  flame,  but  he  still 
remained  silent. 

"  Do  you  not  hear  me,  Ben  ?  or,  perhaps,  you  do  not  think  me 
sufficiently  beautiful  to  be  loved  I" 

11  Oh,  no,"  he  exclaimed,  "  you  are  more  beautiful  than  the 
evening  star." 

"  Well,  if  such  be  your  idea,  would  you  not  be  willing  to 
serve  me  as  a  slave  for  a  few  years,  in  order,  at  last,  to  obtain 
my  hand  ?" 

"  Yes,  yes,  a  thousand  times,  yes  ;  say  what  you  wish  me  to 
do?" 

"  Avenge  my  wrongs  I"  she  answered,  in  slow,  solemn 
accents. 

"  Who  has  injured  you  ?"  he  interrogated  witn  an  awful  look. 

"  Can  you  not  guess  ?" 

The  Indian  reflected  deeply  for  several  moments,  and  then  a 
certain  lurid  light  gleamed  on  his  deformed  visage,  as  he  replied, 
"  I  know  of  but  one  person  who  has  wronged  you,  and  that  is 
the  captain,  by  his  love  for  another  girl." 

"  He  is  the  man." 

"  Then  I  will  follow  him,  and  shoot  him  before  sunset,"  cried 
the  Comanche  springing  to  his  feet,  and  grasping  the  handle  of 
his  huge  revolver. 


128        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

The  woman  smiled  and  said,  "  sit  down,  Ben,  I  do  not  want 
him  killed  yet,  not  for  several  years." 

"  Then  you  do  not  hate  him,"  inferred  the  other  with  his  bar 
barian  logic. 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  she  asserted  in  terrible  tones  ;  "  I  loathe  him 
more  than  words  can  express,  or  imagination  paint  in  its  most 
dreadful  dreams  of  blood  and  carnage." 

"  But  yet  would  have  him  live  ?"  interposed  the  savage  with 
an  air  of  incredulity 

"  Yes,  I  would  have  him  live,"  she  answered,  "  but  live  alone 
to  suffer  ;  for  all  physical  pain  ceases  with  the  convulsions  of  the 
last  agony.  I  must  see  him  writhe  like  a  worm  in  the  embers, 
through  the  long  torture  of  years,  I  would  protract  it  to  ages,  if 
I  had  the  power.  His  heart  must  break  by  inches  as  he  has 
broken  mine." 

"  I  understand  you  now,"  said  the  Comanche,  grinning  like  a 
devil  at  the  conception  of  a  cruelty,  so  infinitely  transcending  his 
own  gross  and  material  ideas  of  the  most  perfect  revengeT 

"  And  will  you  aid  me  ?"  she  inquired  with  her  syren  voice. 

"  Yes,  in  everything,"  he  responded  with  fearful  earnest 
ness. 

"  Then  you  must  pretend  to  obey  the  captain,  with  greater 
zeal  than  ever,  but  take  all  your  directions  from  me,  and  com 
municate  in  return  all  the  secrets  of  the  band.  You  must  meet 
me  both  in  public  and  in  private  with  the  same  reserve  as  for 
merly,  and  never  betray  our  engagement  by  one  word  or  look.  I 
shall  allow  no  sort  of  liberty,  save  a  kiss  of  my  hand  at  parting, 
and  remember,  that  if  you  fail  in  one  single  particular,  I  will 
never  speak  to  you  again.  Now  leave  rae  until  to-morrow." 

She  extended  her  beautiful  hand,  and  the  savage  raised  it  to 
his  lips,  and  dropping  it  suddenly,  fled  from  the  library. 

How  various  are  the  modes  adopted  by  the  rigid  impartiality  of 
infinite  justice-  for  the  punishment  of  human  crime.  But  still  most 
commonlv  the  instruments  of  sin  are  used  as  the  chosen  and 


REVENGE.  129 

favorite  means  of  vengeance  against  the  actors.  The  demons 
who  have  so  long  and  faithfully  served  our  guilty  passions,  the 
compact  of  hell  being  at  last  broken,  turn  round  in  fury,  and 
rend  their  wicked  masters. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

PLOTS   AND  COUNTER-PLOTS. 

ON  the  night  of  the  day  that  witnessed  the  events  just  recorded, 
the  lynchers  mustered  an  immense  force  at  their  former  rendez 
vous  beneath  the  great  sycamore  on  the  lake,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Major  Morrow's  residence.  An  event  had  happened  the 
evening  before,  which  had  swelled  their  numbers  beyond  their 
most  sanguine  expectations,  and  promised  to  give  them  supreme 
control  of  the  community.  A  family  by  the  name  of  Marks, 
consisting  of  the  parents  and  six  children,  had  been  murdered, 
and  their  bodies  consumed  in  the  flames  of  their  own  dwelling, 
which  had  been  fired  by  the  robbers  after  the  consummation  of 
the  infernal  crime;  a  deed  of  such  atrocious  barbarity  as  might 
have  brought  a  blush  to  the  darkest  cheek  of  savages,  or  even 
devils. 

The  rumor  flew  on  the  wings  of  the  wind,  startling  the  coun 
try  like  the  unexpected  shock  of  an  earthquake  ;  every  eye 
flashed  with  indignation,  every  face  grew  white  with  horror,  and 
every  heart  boiled  like  a  crater,  with  the  fiercest  emotions  of 
mingled  rage  and  revenge.  Nor  could  this  extraordinary  agita 
tion  of  the  populace  be  regarded  as  a  matter  of  wonder,  since 
the  horrible  tragedy  was  the  first  in  which  an  entire  household 
had  been  massacred,  apparently  without  any  other  motive  than 
the  object  of  plunder  and  the  innate  love  of  cruelty  and  blood 
shed.  Life  and  property,  indeed,  had  long  been  fearfully  inse- 

180 


PLOTS    AND    COUNTER-PLOTS.  131 

cure.  Men  had  fallen  by  the  dozen,  mostly,  however,  in  dnels, 
or  sudden  rencontres,  with  more  or  less  appearance  of  fair  com 
bat.  Slaves  and  horses,  it  is  true,  had  been  stolen,  and  travel 
lers  had  been  robbed  on  the  road,  yet  usually  without  unneces 
sary  violence;  but  in  this  revolting  case,  all  humanity  had  been 
openly  outraged,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  convince  the  people 
that  they  lived  in  the  presence  of  fiends  as  well  as  felons,  and 
this  turned  the  wavering  scale  in  hundreds  of  honest  minds,  and 
determined  them  to  unite  at  once  with  the  regulators.  And  it 
must  be  confessed,  that  they  seemed  to  have  no  choice  left,  but 
a  resort  to  the  physical  force  of  the  mob,  or  utter  ruin  and  exile 
from  their  homes  and  country. 

Thus  favored  by  the  general  feeling  and  opinion,  the  lynchers 
resolved  to  throw  off  all  disguise,  invited  the  public  to  attend 
their  deliberations,  and  thus  drew  together  a  mighty  mass  of 
more  than  half  a  thousand  men.  The  most  powerful  pen  would 
fail  to  describe  the  excitement  of  this  heterogeneous  multitude. 
Writers  frequently  exhaust  the  superlatives  of  the  language,  in 
the  vain  attempt  to  paint  the  fury  of  the  storm,  the  roar  of  the 
army  of  ocean  billows,  and  the  crash  of  the  dread  artillery  of 
Heaven  :  but  how  feeble,  how  ineffectual  seem  all  the  collisions 
of  adverse  elements,  whether  of  fire,  water  or  wind — mere 
material  agitation,  however  awful,  compared  with  the  terrible 
rage  of  the  populace,  mutually  inflaming  each  other  to  frenzy, 
and  drowning  the  faint  voice  of  reason  in  the  deafening  tumult 
of  angry  passion  ;  when  every  brain  burns  with  the  epidemic 
fever  of  temporary  madness  ;  and  every  bosom  holds  a  bursting 
volcano.  All  prudence,  pity,  and  generous  sympathy  abandon  such 
a  crowd,  and  the  animal  instincts,  the  native  red  tigers  of  the 
human  heart,  break  loose  from  the  chains  of  habit,  religion, 
and  education,  and  rule  as  merciless  tyrants,  where  they  had 
previously  served  as  slaves.  Society  becomes  a  menagerie  of 
wild  beasts,  without  a  cage  and  without  a  master. 

Parson  Johnson  being  called  to  the  chair,  assisted  by  half  a 


132        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

dozen  vice-presidents,  all  either  ministers  or  sworn  conservators  of 
peace,  explained  the  object  of  the  meeting,  enumerating,  with 
much  natural  eloquence,  the  enormities  and  various  outrages, 
which  had  lately  been  perpetrated  in  different  parts  of  the  coun 
try. 

One,  Benjamin  Parker,  a  preacher  of  the  Cumberland  Presby 
terian  sect,  then  arose,  and  moved  the  appointment  of  a,  secret 
committee,  for  the  government  of  their  organization,  and  the 
trial  of  all  criminal  charges.  The  speaker  was  a  lean,  long,  slen 
der  man,  with  the  form  and  limbs  of  a  skeleton  ;  but,  as  if  to 
make  amends  for  the  meagreness  of  his  breath,  nature  had  drawn 
him  out  wonderfully  in  length,  to  the  measure  of  six  feet  and 
five  inches.  His  features,  however,  were  all  in  perfect  harmony 
with  this  gigantic  figure,  sharing  in  most  brotherly  union,  at 
once,  its  slimness  and  longitude.  He  had  a  forehead  tall  and 
narrow;  a  face  long  and  narrow,  so  that  he  had  no  occasion  to 
draw  down  the  corners  of  his  mouth  in  order  to  look  sanctimoni 
ous  ;  a  nasal  organ,  with  which  Sterne  might  have  capped  the 
climax  of  his  promontory  of  noses,  and  a  long  peaked  chin,  that 
seemed  like  a  second  nose,  which  had  grown,  by  accident,  too 
low  down.  Add  a  pair  of  large  white  eyes,  white  hair,  and  a 
ghostly  complexion,  with  the  ideal  of  a  puritanic,  acid  counte 
nance,  and  you  have  the  parson's  portrait. 

With  a  voice  hoarse  as  the  rattle  of  a  drum,  that  pealed 
through  the  woods  like  the  bellowing  of  thunder,  he  aroused 
every  prejudice  and  passion  in  support  of  his  motion,  and  was 
finally  forced  to  take  his  seat,  by  'the  whirlwind  of  popular 
applause  that  hailed  his  sentiments. 

He  was  followed  by  Joel  Dodson,  a  Millenarian  minister,  who 
affected  some  vague  pretensions  to  the  gift  of  prophecy.  He 
was  a  small,  sour-visaged  man,  whose  very  looks  belied  his 
favorite  doctrine,  and  ignored  even  the  possibility  of  such  a 
fabulous  myth  as  human  happiness.  His  bald  head  glistened 
with  reverence,  unobscured  by  a  single  hair,  but  his  yellowish- 


PLOTS    AND    COUNTER-PLOTS.  133 

brown  eyes  twinkled  with  a  gleaming  lustre  that  very  much 
resembled  the  cunning  of  the  quack  and  impostor.  He 
supported,  by  numerous  scriptural  quotations,  the  views  of 
brother  Parker,  and  boldly  avowed  that  universal  lynching 
would  herald  the  Millenium.  His  own  disciples  greeted  this 
prediction  with  boisterous  acclamations  ;  and  many  called  out 
impatiently  for  the  vote. 

Suddenly,  Major  Morrow  sprung  to  his  feet,  and  declared  his 
opposition  to  the  measure.  He  wanted  no  committee,  no 
tedious  investigations,  no  examination  of  evidence.  "  Let  us 
elect  our  commander,  fix  our  shootin'-irons,  and  march  to  the 
death  of  every  rogue  in  the  county,  before  the  rest  of  our 
families  are  butchered  in  their  beds,  like  that  of  poor  Marks  !" 

This  ruthless  proposition  was  received  with  still  more  clamor 
ous  plaudits,  and  appeared  about  to  be  carried,  when  John 
Carter  a  methodist  preacher  gained  a  hearing.  He  was  a 
massive,  well-developed  person,  with  a  fine  head,  and  pleasing 
face,  expressing  in  the  bright  blue  eyes,  and  florid  countenance, 
the  purest  intentions,  combined  with  great  humor  and  even  mirth- 
fulness.  He  advocated,  by  the  most  convincing  practical  argu 
ments,  the  first  motion,  and  showed  the  dangerous  consequences 
of  the  course  urged  by  the  last  speaker. 

"  You  wish  to  slaughter  all  the  thieves,"  he  said,  addressing 
himself  to  the  major,  whose  long,  red  beard  moved  with  ire,  like 
the  whiskers  of  an  infuriated  wildcat  ;  "  very  well,  we  all  desire 
the  same  thing  ;  but  how  will  you  discover  who  they  are,  with 
out  a  regular  inquiry  by  positive  and  methodical  proofs  ?" 

"  We  can  take  them  jist  as  they  stand  on  the  list  furnished  by 
Parson  Cole,  and  Bob  Bennet,"  answered  Morrow. 

41  Where  are  the  witnesses  that  you  have  named  ?"  inquired 
Carter, 

"The  robbers  have  doubtless  assassinated  them  out  of  revenge 
for  their  disclosure,"  explained  the  major. 

"It  is  far  more  Drobable,  that  their   tale  was  a   fiction/7 


134  BANGERS    AND   REGULATORS   OF   THE   TANAHA. 

replied  Carter  ;  "  and  that  fearing  to  be  detected,  they  have  fled 
the  country.  I  hold  in  my  hand  a  letter  from  the  presiding 
elder  of  south-western  Missouri,  representing  the  character  of 
Cole  as  most  infamous." 

A  lawyer  Rider,  from  Shelbyville,  next  arose  to  back  the 
reasons  of  the  Methodist  minister.  He  was  a  lean,  withered 
specimen  of  humanity,  with  keen  black  eyes  ;  a  nose  like  the 
beak  of  a  bird,  as  if  specially  formed  to  pick  holes  in  cases  and 
things  in  general ;  a  complexion  of  dirty  yellow,  similar  to  the 
soiled  sheep-skin  of  his  own  legal  folios,  and  a  voice  disagreeable 
as  the  tones  of  a  cracked  bell.  He  expatiated  freely  on  the 
necessity  of  order  and  method  in  their  proceedings,  and  suggested 
the  importance  of  having  a  prosecuting  attorney,  to  sift  the 
testimony  by  the  tortures  of  cross-examination,  and  lastly,  to  pro 
pitiate  his  chief  opponent,  he  closed  by  remarking,  that  there 
was  but  one  man  in  the  community  equal  to  the  task  of  general 
commander  of  the  forces,  and  he  pointed  with  his  finger  at  Major  - 
Morrow.  This  adroit  manoeuvre  settled  the  controversy,  as  the 
latter  immediately  withdrew  his  opposition,  and  the  motion  was 
carried  by  acclamation. 

The  names  of  all  the  citizens  willing  to  join  tne  organization, 
were  then  enrolled,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  some  four 
hundred  and  fifty  ;  and  the  election  of  officers  was  made 
by  ballot.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Parker  was  chosen  president, 
and  parsons  Johnson,  Carter,  and  Dodson,  with  eight  others, 
formed  the  judicial  committee.  Major  Morrow  was  chief  of  the 
company,  and  counsellor  Rider,  prosecutor  general  of  all  accusa 
tions.  It  was  also  unanimously  resolved,  that  all  other  civil 
jurisdiction  should  cease  during  the  reign  of  the  lynchers,  that 
they  would,  in  fact,  neither  pay  taxes,  nor  submit  to  the  service 
of  civil  process,  and  they  despatched  a  delegation  to  inform  the 
judge  and  sheriff  of  their  determination.  Then  after  solemnly 
swearing  all  their  members  to  faithful  allegiance,  the  assembly 
adjourned  to  meet  early  the  next  morning.  And  thus  was  the 


PLOTS    AND   COUNTER-PLOTS.  135 

civil  war  organized,  that  soon  drenched  the  virgin  forests  with 
blood,  and  clothed  a  hundred  families  in  mourning.  Many 
fearful  scenes  of  inob-law  have  followed  the  frontier  from  Caro 
lina  to  California,  but  none  to  parallel  this,  in  the  number  of  its 
victims,  the  force  and  ferocity  of  the  factions,  or  in  the  open 
and  outrageous  defiance  of  all  constitutional  authority,  which 
won  for  the  region,  so  disgraced  by  its  violence,  the  name  of 
"  the  free  state  of  Tanaha,"  a  title  it  still  wears,  although 
the  state  of  society,  at  the  present  day,  will  compare  favorably 
with  any  beyond  the  Alleghany  mountains. 

As  soon  as  the  multitude  dispersed,  Captain  Carlyle  descended 
from  his  hiding-place  in  the  hollow  sycamore,  and  giving  a  shrill 
peculiar  whistle,  was  quickly  joined  by  one  of  his  band. 

"  I  have  them  now,"  murmured  the  robber,  with  a  smile  of 
satisfaction  ;  "  they  have  avowed  a  scheme  of  positive  rebellion. 
I  must  hurry  home,  and  forward  a  message  to  the  president 
of  the  Republic,  who  will  order  out  the  militia,  and  crush  them 
like  a  nest  of  vipers  I  In  the  meantime,  you  must  take  my  place 
in  that  tree,  and  watch  their  proceedings  to-morrow,  and  be 
sure,  they  do  not  discover  you." 

The  subordinate  promised  compliance,  and  the  principal,  seek 
ing  his  horse,  hurried  off  home,  where  he  arrived  a  little  before 
daylight.  He  found  Comanche  Ben  sleeping  on  the  porch,  and 
arousing  him  hastily,  ordered  the  Indian  to  fly  across  the  river 
to  their  camp,  and  summon  one  of  his  most  trusty  followers  to 
attend  at  the  house  immediately.  He  then  walked  into  the 
library,  where  to  his  surprise,  a  lamp  was  burning,  and  the 
lovely  form  of  Lucy  lay  reclined  in  a  seemingly  profound  slumber 
on  the  sofa.  She  awakened,  however,  at  the  sound  of  his  foot 
steps,  and  saluted  him  with  a  show  of  greater  pleasure  and  more 
tranquil  confidence,  than  she  had  exhibited  since  the  inception 
of  her  jealousy. 

"  I  have  remained  here  without  undressing,  all  the  night,"  she 
remarked,  with  beaming  looks  of  love  fond  as  in  the  hours  of  their 


136  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA 

earliest  bliss  ;  "I  have  heard  such  rumors  concerning  the  fatal 
intentions  of  the  lynchers,  and  was  so  uneasy  on  your  account. 
What  a  misfortune  it  would  be  if  they  should  break  up  your 
plans  now,  when  one"  more  successful  speculation  will  realize  all 
our  wildest  dreams  of  wealth." 

The  captain  gazed  at  her  with  those  piercing  black  eyes, 
touched  with  a  slight  suspicion,  as  he  answered,  "  I  thought,  Lucy, 
that  you  cared  little  whether  my  schemes  prospered  or  not." 

"  Oh,  my  dearest,"  she  replied,  in  tones  of  the  most  intense 
passion  ;  "I  have  been  very  foolish,  and  perverse  as  a  spoiled 
child.  I  did  not  reflect  that  men  demand  more  variety  for  their 
ample  affections,  than  we  poor  women  either  desire  or  expect. 
But  I  will  be  jealous  no  longer  ;  you  may  marry  even  whom  you 
please,  so  that  you  keep  me  as  the  queen  idol  of  your  bosom." 

Nevertheless,  Carlyle  felt  disposed  to  doubt  this  earnest  assev 
eration,  so  different  from  his  experience  of  the  woman's  character  ; 
but  the  burning  ardor  of  her  embraces,  and  infinite  tenderness  of 
her  voice  and  manner,  caused  his  incredulity  to  waver,  and  he  resol 
ved  to  simulate  entire  belief,  and  watch  her  closely  afterwards. 

"  Now  you  talk  like  a  girl  of  sense,"  he  declared,  return 
ing  her  warm  caresses  ;  "  I  love  none  but  you,  but  in 
order  to  retain  my  power  over  Colonel  Miles,  it  is  necessary  to 
wed  his  daughter,  and  as  soon  as  our  object  in  this  country  shall 
be  achieved,  we  shall  leave  our  dupes,  and  fly  away  to  enjoy  our 
love  alone,  in  the  gay  luxuries  of  some  European  capital." 

"  O,  I  ought  to  have  known,"  cried  the  artful  woman,  feigning 
to  credit  every  word  of  falsehood  he  uttered  ;  "  nay,  I  might 
have  sworn  that  you  would  never  prove  false  in  your  heart  to 
me  ;  and  now  I  will  never  more  harbor  one  suspicion  of  your 
fidelity." 

Of  these  two  souls  thus  pretending  fondness,  but  feeling 
immortal  hate,  and  bent  on  each  other's  destruction,  by  all  the 
base  means  of  guile  and  cunning,  which  will  conquer  ?  The 
match  appears  nearly  equal,  the  chances  are  well  balanced,  by  his 


PLOTS   AND    COUNTER-PLOTS.  13 1 

shrewdness  and  bravery  on  one  side,  and  by  her  hypocrisy  and 
bewitching  beauty  on  the  other.  Time  alone,  the  everlasting 
Sphinx,  must  read  her  own  riddles,  written  on  this  crime-pollu 
ted  page. 

"  There  now,  Lucy,  let  me  go/'  said  Carlyle,  releasing  himself 
from  her  arms  ;  "  I  must  pen  a  dispatch  to  the  president  of  the 
republic,  and  have  the  militia  called  out  to  suppress  the  lyneh- 
ers  ;  they  will  resist  I  am  sure,  and  be  massacred  like  wolves  as 
they  are." 

"  Then,  I  will  retire  to  my  room,  until  you  shall  have  finished 
your  correspondence,"  answered  the  woman,  and  she  hurried  to 
the  parlor,  and  lighting  a  candle  wrote  rapidly  a  few  lines,  and 
folding  up  the  sheet,  addressed  it  to  General  Houston.  At  the 
moment,  she  heard  a  heavy  step  enter  the  library,  which  she  cor 
rectly  inferred  to  be  that  of  the  messenger  who  was  to  bear  the 
communication  of  the  captain  to  the  government.  She  then 
stole  softly  out  of  the  house  and  finding  the  Indian,  said  in  a 
whisper  ;  "  the  man  who  has  just  gone  in  to  see  your  master, 
will  depart  very  soon  with  a  letter.  You  must  follow  him  and 
manage  to  get  it  away,  and  place  this  in  its  stead,"  and  handing 
him  the  epistle  which  she  had  just  prepared,  she  returned  to  the 
parlor. 

The  instant  afterwards  the  messenger  appeared  in  the  door, 
to  start  on  his  mission.  The  captain  exclaimed,  as  the  other 
sprung  into  the  saddle,  "  see  that  you  do  not  lose  it,  and  spare 
neither  whip  nor  spur,  for  it  is  a  matter  of  the  utmost  impor 
tance." 

"  Yes,  it  is  a  matter  of  tne  utmost  importance,"  echoed  Lucy, 
with  a  strange  smile.  The  captain  then  came  in  and  seated 
himself  by  her  side  ;  but  he  had  not  time  to  utter  a  syllable, 
before  an  event  occurred  to  end  the  interview.  The  huge  form 
of  Tony  suddenly  entered  without  ceremony,  and  his  hideous 
visage  announced  that  he  was  the  bearer  of  news  uncommonly 
interesting.  He  had  even  opened  his  monkey-looking  mouth  to 


138  RANGERS  AND   REGULATORS   OF  THE  TANAHA. 

discharge  his  message  outright,  when  observing  the  presence  of 
Lucy,  he  hesitated  stammering,  "  Massa  Carlyle,  I  ax  yer  pardon 
as  how  I  'spected  you  wur  alone." 

"It  is  no  difference,  Tony,  speak  out  what  you  have  got  to 
say,"  answered  the  Captain,  fixing  his  eyes  with  a  stealthy  side 
long  glance  upon  the  changeless  countenance  of  his  mistress. 

"  Ha  !  we've  got  'em  now,  bofe  of  'em,  too,  safe  as  possums 
up  a  gum  stump,"  cried  the  African,  grinning  from  ear  to  ear, 
like  the  animal,  from  which  he  had  just  taken  the  liberty  of  bor 
rowing  his  comparison. 

"  Whom  have  you  got  ?';  inquired  Carlyle. 

"  Wy,  Mr.  Bollum,  and  Mary,  just  as  they  were  gwin'  to  be 
married." 

"  Are  they  married  ?"  screamed  the  agitated  robber,  pallid  as 
a  ghost. 

"  No,  Massa  Miles  fotch  up  thar  in  the  nick  of  time,  and  toted 
'em  back  home  arter  him,  tellin'  'em  twur  more  polite  to  be  hal 
tered  in  thur  own  stable,  and  they  follered  like  colts." 

"  Are  they  married  now  ?"  asked  Carlyle,  somewhat  relieved, 
but  not  fully  assured.  > 

"  No,  but  they  are  gwin'  to  be  the  day  arter  to-morrow." 

"  The  dawn  of  that  day,  one  of  them  shall  never  witness," 
remarked  the  bandit,  with  a  look  of  murderous  malice  ;  "  I 
must  make  sure  of  him  this  time !"  and  he  rang  the  bell  furiously. 

Several  servants  rushed  in  to  obey  the  hasty  summons,  and 
the  master  inquired,  anxiously,  "  Where  is  Comanche  Ben?" 

"  He  galloped  off  a  minute  arter  Rovin'  Dick  left,"  was  the 
reply. 

"  That  is  strange,"  muttered  Carlyle,  in  a  tone  ot  vexation  ; 
"  I  told  him  to  remain  near  the  house,  and  I  never  knew  him  to 
violate  my  orders  before." 

"  You  ought  to  punish  him  severely,"  suggested  Lucy,  in  a  low 
whisper;  "  for  of  late,  I  think  he  has  grown  somewhat  saucy." 

"  Oh  no,  you  are  mistaken,"  affirmed  the  captain,  confidently; 


PLOTS   AND    COUNTER-PLOTS.  139 

"  he  is  by  far  the  most  reliable  member  of  my  band.  He  has 
probably  forgotten  something  which  he  wished  to  learn  from 
Roving  Dick.  He  belongs  to  me,  soul  and  body,  and  I  would 
trust  him  with  my  very  life." 

A  wild  gleam  of  revenge  shone  for  an  instant  in  the  dark  eyes 
of  the  woman,  as  she  answered  carelessly,  "  Dearest,  you  are  the 
best  judge." 

"  I  cannot  wait  for  him,  however,"  he  whispered;  "  when  he 
returns,  tell  him  to  summon  twenty  of  my  men  to  meet  me  to 
day,  about  noon,  at  our  old  rendezvous,  in  Tanaha  bottom, 
behind  the  farm  of  Colonel  Miles."  And  kissing  her  with  appa 
rent  fondness,  he  left  the  house,  and  rode  rapidly  away. 

Immediately,  Lucy  flew  into  the  library  and  penned  a  brief 
note,  addressed  to  Mary  Miles.  As  she  finished  it,  the  Indian 
came  back,  and  she  communicated  the  mandate  of  Carlyle, 
remarking,  "  you  must  do  as  he  has  directed,  be  in  the  greatest 
possible  haste,  and  then,  afterwards,  go  to  the  residence  of 
Colonel  Miles,  and  contrive  some  means  of  delivering  this  letter 
into  the  hands  of  Mary,  if  you  can  effect  it  without  being 
observed." 

"  I  will  do  it  or  die,"  murmured  the  Comanche,  as  he  received 
the  message  and  hurried  off  at  a  gallop. 

In  the  meantime  the  captain  had  gone  to  Shelbyville,  where 
he  met  the  father  of  Mary,  and  the  two  arranged  their  plan  for 
the  assassination  of  William  Boiling,  to  be  consummated  that 
night.  The  colonel,  it  is  true,  endeavored  to  dissuade  Carlyle 
from  committing  the  horrible  deed,  but  all  his  arguments  proved 
unavailing,  to  alter  the.  obstinate  purpose  of  the  more  ruth 
less  villain,  who  answered  him  in  his  usual  vein,  with  taunts  and 
menaces. 

Let  me  now  turn,  for  a  brief  space,  from  these  repulsive 
pictures  of  crime  and  guilty  passion,  and  seek  relief  in  the 
glowing  beauty  of  a  brighter  scene,  a  vision  for  the  admiration, 
and  almost  envy,  of  the  angels.  The  destined  but  unsuspecting 


140       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

victim  of  the  bandits,  passed  the  day  in  the  sweet  society  of  his 
promised  bride.  The  rosy-winged  hours  glided  swiftly,  like  all 
happiness,  away,  in  that  soft-murmured  converse,  which  has 
formed,  since  the  beginning  of  time,  Q\e  delicious  theme  for  the 
lips  of  lovers.  As  the  cloudless  sun  approached  his  golden 
setting,  the  youth  proposed  a  stroll ;  and  the  two  walked  forth 
to  enjoy  the  balmy  beauty  of  the  mild  evening  air.  And, 
perhaps,  neither  of  them  had  ever  before  appeared  so  lovely  in 
all  their  lives. 

Their  beauty  of  so  very  different  orders,  heightened  by 
contrast  the  respective  charms  of  each,  so  that  DO  one  could  have 
affirmed  which  looked  the  more  enchanting.  This  seemed 
especially  the  case,  when  they  paused  on  the  verge  of  the  forest, 
beneath  a  tree  covered  with  a  snow  of  radiant  blossoms,  yielding 
the  most  intoxicating  perfume,  as  if  all  its  flowers  were  fresh 
from  paradise.  They  gazed  with  infinite  fondness  into  each 
other's  eyes,  and  the  blue  depths  of  his  mirrored  the  dark  light 
from  hers,  until  their  very  souls  seemed  to  mingle  in  the  sacra 
ment  of  an  immortal  union.  Indeed,  they  were  already  wedded 
in  that  pure  bridal  of  the  heart,  which  never  can  know  divorce, 
and  defies  separation.  Their  very  voices  sounded  like  one,  his 
coarse  tones  having  unconsciously  caught  the  notes  of  her 
musical  whisper  ;  and  the  divine  carnation,  the  celestial  tint  of 
love  on  their  mutual  cheeks,  seemed  borrowed  from  the  sun-dyed 
wing  of  the  same  rainbow. 

"  0,  this  is  truly,  almost  too  great  a  burden  of  bliss  !"  said 
the  youth  in  accents  gentle  as  the  evening  wind,  that  scarcely 
stirred  the  silken  petals  of  the  snow-flowers  pendant  above  their 
heads. 

"  And  how  grateful  I  feel  for  this  unexpected  change  in 
the  sentiments  of  my  dear  father,"  murmured  Mary,  with 
her  starlight  smile. 

"  Yes,  and  I  will  never  forget  it,  but  always  reverence  him  aa 
my  own,"  added  the  youth  ;  "  I  cannot  but  love  any  relative  of 


PLOTS    AND   COUNTER-PLOTS.  141 

yours,  dearest  one,  when  I  adore  the  very  dust  that  has  been 
sainted  by  your  feet." 

"  And  I  will  love  your  parents  also,"  sighed  the  maiden  ;  "  I 
will  have  two  fathers  now,  and  find  a  new  mothe"r  on  earth  to 
replace  the  angel  one  in  heaven  I" 

"  And  they  will  both  love  you  as  well,"  he  affirmed  ;  "  your 
qjagical  beauty  must  bring  love  in  every  heart,  as  the  stars  give 
glory  to  the  evening  air." 

"  I  am  not  so  beautiful,  my  William,"  she  said,  with  a  blush 
of  rich  vermilion,  that  belied  her  own  modest  words  ;  "  but  you, 
O,  you  are  more  beautiful  than  a  dream  of  the  heart." 

"  No,  my  Mary,*  it  is  not  as  you  say  ;  but  I  can  make  amends 
in  love  for  all  I  may  want  in  personal  graces,  and  you,  my 
charmer,  are  beautiful  enough  for  us  both." 

"I  protest  not,"  she  smiled  more  sweetly  than  ever;  "you 
see  me  through  the  rainbow  medium  of  your  over-bright  fancy  ; 
but  I  really  feel,  that  I  have  fondness  sufficient  to  fill  a  hundred 
hearts." 

And  so  they  continued  discoursing  of  love,  only  love,  until  the 
burning  gold  of  the  dying  day  turned  to  silver,  and  then  that 
changed  into  the  soft  azure  of  the  beautiful  black-mantled, 
blue-eyed  virgin  night,  and  a  thousand  stars  walked  out  on  the 
empyreal  heights  of  heaven,  to  witness  the  innocent  embrace  of 
the  young  lovers,  who  still  whispered  love,  only  love  1 

And  is  there,  indeed,  anything  on  earth,  or  even  in  the  sky 
like  it?  That  miraculous  power  of  transformation,  which 
creates  all  things  new — that  burning  baptism  of  the  youthful 
heart,  which  admits  it  as  an  immortal  member  into  the  bright 
communion  of  passion,  poetry,  and  the  ideal  of  all  beauty  and 
art — that  comes  like  the  echoes  of  some  divine  voice,  from  the 
distant  spheres,  which  live  in  light  for  evermore,  and  arousing  us 
from  the  death-like  sleep  of  selfishness,  calls  us  away  to  higher 
and  holier  aims,  and  teaches  us  the  first  sweet  lesson  of  sacrific 
ing  our  habits,  hopes,  desires,  our  all,  for  the  bliss  of  another 


142       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AHA. 

being,  to  lose  our  very  life,  and  find  it  again  purified,  exalted, 
sainted,  as  it  were,  in  another  soul,  a  second  self,  the  comple 
ment  to  the  circle  of  our  true  existence,  in  a  boundless  beatitude 
of  which  we  never  before  had  even  dreamed — to  love  ! 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    NEGRO   MEET  IN  G. 

ON  the  night  of  the  same  day  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  chap 
ter,  a  very  different  kind  of  meeting,  from  that  of  the  lynchers, 
assembled  some  half  dozen  miles  from  the  other,  in  the  Tanaha 
bottom,  about  midway  between  the  residences  of  Major  Morrow 
and  Colonel  Miles.  In  the  purple  twilight  of  the  evening,  two 
individuals  might  have  been  seen,  urging  their  course  through 
the  dense  and  tangled  forest,  towards  the  point  above  specified. 
One  of  these  was  an  extremely  'tall,  slender,  skin  of  a  man,  well 
stuffed,  however,  with  long,  loose  bones,  all  of  which  seemed  to 
be  out  of  joint,  giving  to  his  gait  and  gestures  an  appearance 
indescribably  ludicrous  and  awkward.  His  face  was  so  full  of 
adverse  angles,  both  plane  and  spherical,  as  to  defy  all  the  cal 
culations  of  trigonometry  to  furnish  their  measurement  or  rela 
tive  dimensions.  His  nose,  long  and  remarkably  beaked, 
nearly  consummated  a  wedding  with  his  projecting  crooked 
chin,  that  turned  its  sharp  point  upwards,  as  if  anxious  for  the 
proposed  union.  His  forehead,  low  and  narrow,  presented  two 
enormous  knots  immediately  above  the  visual  orbs,  showing  that 
however  deficient  this  person  might  be  in  the  higher  mental  and 

148 


144       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

moral  faculties,  he  did  not  want  keen  perception  for  the  practi 
cal  realities  of  mere  material  life.  Add  hair  the  color  of  tow, 
a  swarthy  complexion,  and  small,  shrewd,  deep-set  eyes,  of  a 
yellowish  brown,  similar  in  size  and  look  to  those  of  a  bear,  and 
the  picture  of  Jonathan  Hutson  is  complete.  The  other  man  was 
an  old  acquaintance,  Lieutenant  Curran,  of  "  the  rifle  rangers," 
as  he  had  dubbed  himself,  with  so  much  truth  and  some  little 
wit. 

The  two  companions  made  their  way  among  the  mazy  under 
growth,  with  great  difficulty;  for,  indeed,  it  seemed  nearly  as 
impossible  for  the  lofty  length  of  Jonathan  to  pierce  the  jungles 
of  interwoven  cane,  as  for  a  camel  to  creep  through  the  eye  of 
a  needle,  or  for  Crossus  or  Rothschild  to  enter  the  narrow  gate 
of  Paradise.     The  vines  overhead  were  almost  continually  insert 
ing  their  snake-like  tendrils  into  the  towy  tangles  of  his  hair,  and 
if  he  adopted  the  stooping  posture,  to  avoid  the  fate  of  Absalom, 
the  roots,  in  serpentine  coils,  always  managed  to  trip  up  his 
heels.     But  to  every  mishap,  he  replied,  with  the  innocent  impre 
cation,  "  Consarn  it."     What  precise  import  he  attached  to  the 
words,  his  comrade  could  not  imagine,  but  his  wofully  ludicrous 
visage  amused  the  other  to  frequent  and  uncontrollable  laughter. 
At  length,  shortly  after  dark,  they  reached  a  small,  mouud- 
like  elevation  of  dry  soil  in  the  centre  of  a  large  swamp,  which 
exhibited  several  indications  of  having  been  previously  used  as 
a  place  of  rendezvous  ;  for  the  tall  cane  and  festooned  vine  had 
been  carefully  removed,  and  an  enormous  pile  of  pine-knots  lay 
in  the  vicinity  of  an  ash-heap  that  still  contained  some  live  coals. 
Hutson  hastened  to  kindle  a  bright  blaze,  and  threw  on  fuel, 


THE    NEGRO    MEETING.  145 

until  ft  roared  like  a  conflagration;  then  seating  himself,  and 
pulling  off  his  moccasins,  he  remarked,  in  tones  of  vexation  : 
"  Consarn  it,  my  feet  are  as  wet  'as  a  dead  rat  in  a  rainy  day, 
and  my  legs  as  muddy  as  a  poor  cow  in  a  bog." 

"Ah!  the  captain  deals  out  to  us  all  the  hard  and  dirty 
work,"  said  Curran,  with  an  air  of  affected  commiseration. 

"  And  all  the  dangerous  w,ork,  too,  for  that  matter,"  added 
Jonathan,  with  a  sigh. 

"  There  cannot  be  a  doubt  as  to  the  truth  of  your  last  obser 
vation,"  affirmed  the  other,  seriously;  "  I  should  not  be  aston 
ished  if  some  of  your  black  brethren  should  inform  their  masters 
what  sort  of  gospel  you  give  them  at  midnight." 

"  Yes,  it  may  happen  any  day,  and  then  my  hide  wouldn't 
hold  shucks  !"  ejaculated  Jonathan,  with  a  doleful  shudder. 

"I  am  afraid  they  would  take  greater  liberties  with  your 
neck  than  with  any  other  appendage  of  your  body,"  suggested 
Curran. 

"  I  wish  that  I  wur  back  again  in  Vermont,  they  have  no  such 
doin's  there,"  sighed  the  Yankee,  mournfully. 

'*  They  have  no  niggers  there  to  be  stolen,"  said  the  lieuten 
ant. 

"  They're  all  too  honest  to  steal." 

"  I  should  think  so,  from  one  specimen  of  the  natives  now 
before  me." 

"  O,  I  never  took  to  roguery  until  I  met  with  the  captain," 
apologized  Jonathan  ;  "  and  his  oily  tongue  could  make  the 
apostle  Paul  himself  an  apostate.  Indeed,  he  gave  me  no  other 
alternative  ;  with  the  rope  round  my  neck,  the  gallows-limb 


146  RANGERS    AND   REGULATORS   OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

above  my  head,  and  the  hands  of  three  stout  fellows  at  the  loose 
end'  of  the  halter,  I  had  to  choose  between  instantly  becoming 
a  thief,  or — " 

"  Going  to  Heaven  an  honest  man,"  interposed  Cumin,  laugh 
ing. 

"  No,  I  did  not  feel  myself  fit  for  the  latter  predicament,"  pro 
tested  Hutson;  "  and  so  I  bawletf  out,  '  wait  a  bit,  captain,  and 

I'll  jine  yer  band.'  Then  they  swore  me  in,  and  I've  served 
them  faithfully  ever  since." 

"  Your  life  must  have  been  one  of  strange  adventure," 
remarked  the  other,  thoughtfully. 

"  Consarn  it,  yes;  you  may  well  say  that,"  replied  Jonathan; 
first  a  clock-pedler,  till  my  partner  ran  off  with  all  the  capital 
as  well  as  profits  ;  then  an  old-field  school-master,  till  I  made 
love  to  a  pretty  pupil,  and  her  daddy  thrashed  me  as  if  I  had  been 
a  snake  ;  next  a  Methodist  circuit-rider,  till  they  turned  me  out.'7 

"Upon  what  pretext  did  the  church  dispense  with  such  a 
model  of  piety  and  talents  ?" 

"  They  accused  me  of  some  small  offence,  a  mere  peccadillo, 
in  fact,  that  I  was  more  devoted  in  my  attentions  to  the  sweet 
sisters,  than  to  the  masculine  members  of  the  communion,  but  I 
can  assure  you  on  my  honor,  as  a  man  and  gentleman,  that  the 
charge  was  utterly  without  foundation." 

"  I  should  judge  differently  from  your  handsome  visage,"  ans 
wered  Curran  ironically,  "  to  see  a  beautiful  woman  drooping  her 
bright  ringlets  on  your  bosom,  would  realize  the  old  fable  of 
Venus  and  Vulcan." 

In  a  brief  space,  the  sable  sons  of  Africa  commenced  drop- 


THE    NEGRO    MEETING.  147 

ping  in,  at  first  one  or  two  at  a  time,  bnt  towards  the  noon  of 
night  they  came  in  large  dusky  swarms,  from  every  corn-field  and 
cotton-farm  within  a  dozen  miles.  Even  the  wildest  imagina 
tion  could  not  paint  to  itself  the  picturesque  and  almost  diabol 
ical  appearance  of  the  scene.  The  white  eyes,  ivory  teeth,  and 
apish  ebon  features  of  the  negroes,  gleaming  with  extraordinary 
excitement,  revealed  in  the  crimson  light  of  the  immense  fire  of 
pine-knots,  resembled  the  ghostly  grinning  visages  of  thick 
crowded  imps  in  pandemonium,  far  more  than  human  countenan 
ces  of  living  flesh  and  blood  ;  while  the  enormous  gnarled  oaks, 
and  huge  cone-shaped  trunks  of  the  cypress  and  black  pine,  with 
their  Titanic  limbs,  standing  on  the  verge  of  the  circular  wall  of 
surrounding  darkness,  where  gigantic  spectral  shadows  frowned 
and  flickered  as  the  central  lurid  illumination  increased  or  decayed, 
looked  like  a  host  of  devils,  each  with  a  hundred  arms,  placed  as 
gloomy  sentinels  to  guard  the  infernal  crew  ;  and  the  festoons  of 
long  moss,  quivering  in  the  red  torch-light  lustre,  might  well 
have  been  mistaken  for  the  wild  hair  of  some  great  grey  wizzard, 
that  had  been  recently  bathed  in  blood.  The  wind  murmured 
a  low  mourning  song  in  the  pine-tops,  like  the  sighs  of  a  fiend  in 
pain,  while  the  hoarse  bellowing  of  the  bull-frog,  and  the  mingled 
cries  of  innumerable  insects,  and  the  wailing  shrieks  of  night 
birds,  all  combined  to  produce  a  picture  of  superstitious  horror, 
and  utter  unrelieved  desolation.  It  was  a  spot  for  wandering 
ghosts  to  gather  at  midnight,  for  witches  to  revel  around  hell's 
own  caldron  boiling  over  with  human  blood,  for  enchanters  to 
sign  the  infernal  compact,  which  sends  the  soul  forever  to  tha 
prince  of  evil. 


148       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

Among  the  slaves  in  attendance  were  our  former  acquaintan 
ces,  Hannibal  from  Major  Morrow's,  and  Tony  from  the  planta 
tion  of  Major  Miles.  Both  were  in  wide  grinning  glee,  and 
seemed  to  consider  themselves  as  officers  of  some  sort  in  the  new 
movement  ;  they  had  also  managed  to  persuade  the  servant  of 
William  Boiling  to  turn  out  with  them,  but  Csesar  appeared  to 
be  ill  at  ease  and  gazed  in  stupified  amazement  upon  every  thing 
that  he  saw,  as  if  he  regarded  it  all  as  a  bewildering  dream,  or 
the  infernal  imagery  of  some  weird  and  wicked  phantasmagoria, 
rather  than  actual  present  reality. 

At  last,  the  meeting  was  organized  by  calling  an  athletic 
grey-headed  negro  to  the  chair,  or  more  properly,  stool,  and  one- 
legged  at  that,  for  it  consisted  of  a  single  large  pine-knot,  with 
the  sharp  end  stuck  in  the  ground.  The  president  was  the  slave 
of  John  Minton,  the  brother-in-law  of  Major  Morrow,  and  had 
won  by  the  superior  blackness  of  his  skin,  and  venerable  aspect, 
the  honorary  title  of  "  Uncle  Buck."  He  opened  the  proceed 
ings,  by  a  speech  of  great  brevity  but  very  much  to  the  purpose. 
"  My  dear  brevren,"  he  said,  throwing  back  his  head,  and 
scratching  it  with  both  hands  to  get  out.  the  ideas,  while  he 
turned  up  the  whites  of  his  eyes,  as  if  gazing  at  certain  supposi 
titious  auditors  in  the  air.  "  My  dear  brevren,"  he  repeated  ; 
"  this  am  a  'casion,  of  most  misural  entrust,  it  am  one  neber  to  be 
dismembered,  and  allers  to  be  forgotten.  We  are  fotch  up  here 
to  unvise  means  fur  the  condemnation  of  our  freedom,  at  all  hap 
hazards.  Am  thar  any  a  sun  of  a  gun  among  ye,  what  don't 
• 


want  freedom  ?  He  outfit  to  be  traiisfuglified  into  a  bob-tailed 
mule*  in  fly-time,  and  made  to  walk  till  hims  hind  legs  wur  crooked 


THE    NEGRO    MEETING.  149 

as  a  scythe-handle,  without  con  or  fodder,  and  be  laithered  all 
day,  through  thorn  thickets  !  If  thar  am  any  one  here,  what  am 
such  a  coward  and  cussed  fool,  as  not  to  suppine  for  freedom,  he 
can't  show  his  sneekin'  black  phiz  in  my  church,  I'll  be  horn- 
snaggled  if  he  shall  !  He's  wuss  nor  an  old  coon  dog  what 
won't  bark  at  nuffen  but  cats,  and  if  he  wur  born  agin,  as  the 
Bible  sez,  he'd  be  sure  to'  come  out  a  gal.  But  I  won't  curtain 
darkies  any  fudder,  I'm  sorter  misusenfied  to  jabberatin,  'cept  on 
speckerlogical  subjecs,  so  I'll  let  the  white  brevren  colluminicate 
yer  ignorance  1" 

"  Lor  !  what  big  words  1"  ejaculated  the  astonished  CaBsar, 
with  his  eyes  rolling  in  his  head  like  plates  on  the  finger  of  a 
juggler,  "  I  never  seed  a  nigger  before  what  could  speak  Latin  1" 

"  Horumtory  am  the  marrow-bone  of  freedom,"  replied  Han 
nibal  ;  "  and  that  am  the  reason  the  white  folks  have  such  a 
dose  ob  it  ebery  fourth  of  July. 

"  Ha  !"  said  the  other  with  a  staring  look  of  wonder. 

Jonathan  Hutson  next  arose  to  attempt  the  fulfilment  of 
Uncle  Buck's  mysterious  promise.  The  long,  lean,  bony  appear 
ance  of  the  ex-clock  pedler,  as  revealed  in  the  deep  crimson  rays 
of  the  pine-fire,  gave  him  the  exact  likeness  of  a  skeleton,  with 
two  carbuncles  set  in  the  eye-sockets.  However,  he  modulated 
his  eloquence  to  the  right  tone  for  the  intelligence  of  his  hearers, 
and  touched  all  their  passions  and  prejudices  with  admirable 
adroitness,  and  in  this  his  former  experience  as  a  preacher  ser 
ved  him  excellently,  for  the  southern  negroes  are  superstitiously 
fond  of  scriptural  imagery,  to  which  they  not  unfrequently 
attach  a  magical  virtue,  like  forms  of  incantation. 


150       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  Brethren,  gentlemen,  and  fellow-citizens,"  began  Jonathan, 

with  a  wry  face,  as  if  the  terms  stung  him,  or  stuck  in  his  throat, 

"  my  dear  brother  and  esteemed  friend,  who  has  just  taken  his 

seat,  remarked  truly,  that  this  is  an  ever-memorable  occasion. 

It  is  like  the  hour  of  ancient  glory,  when  the  children  of  Israel 

started  to  fly  from  their  task-masters  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  with 

*the  pillar  of  cloud  to  guide  them  by  day,  and  the  pillar  of  fire  to 

guide  them  by  night.     They  were  slaves,  as  you  now  are  ;  but 

Heaven  sent  them  a  Moses  to  lead  them  out  of  bondage,  away 

to  the  fair  fields  of  Canaan,  flowing  with  milk  and  honey:  and  so 

I  have  been  sent  to  break  your  chains  of  captivity,  and  conduct 

you  to  the  soil  of  equality  and  freedom,  in  the  happy  region  of 

the  bright  Yankee-land,  that  lies  near  the  nose  of  the  north  star!" 

He  paused,  and   deafening  acclamations  shook  the  old  woods 

like  thunder. 

The  speaker  snuffed  up  the  whirlwind  of  applause  with  a  self- 
satisfied  air,  and  continued,  "  Yes,  my  well-beloved  brethren, 
Heaven  has  commanded  it,  you  must  be  free.  The  Bible  says 
emphatically,  that  the  bird  which  can  sing,  and  won't  sing,  shall 
be  made  sing !  Be  ye,  therefore,  ready,  and  a  week  from  to-night  I 
will  lead  you  out  of  Egypt  to  the  happy  Canaan  of  the  free  States." 
"  We  will — we  will  !  no  more  massas  !  no  more  wuk!  nuflfen 
but  play  and  kick  up  our  heels,  and  saw  de  fiddle  !"  shouted  five 
hundred  voices. 

"  But   what  shall  we  do  fur  suthen  to  wuk  in  our  jaws  ?" 
inquired  some  one,  blessed  with  a  too  practical  turn  of  mind. 

11  Oh,  y'  goose,  can't  you  cotch  possums?"  interrupted  Tony 
with  a  look  of  superiority. 


THE    NEGRO    MEETING.  151 

"But  I  want  bread,  too,  fur  my  corn-crackers,"  urged  the 
other. 

"That  am  a  fac,"  echoed  many  more  persons  in  the  crowd,  in 
dubious  accents. 

"Yes,  and  bread  ye  shall  have,"  vociferated  Jonathan,  as  he 
noticed  the  ebb  in  the  springtide  of  popular  feeling.  "Your 
good  friends,  the  Abolitionists,  have  stowed  away  magazines  of 
provisions  all  along  the  road  that  you  will  travel.  Ye  shall  live 
on  the  fat  of  the  land,  fish,  fowl,  flesh,  hot  cakes,  butter,  honey, 
everything  ye  can  ask." 

"  Lor  !  how  rich  them  Bobolitions  must  be,"  muttered  Caesar. 

"Yes,  and  how  fillumcroppic,"  added  Han. 

"  But  what  will  we  do,  when  we  get  to  Canaan?"  asked  a  voice. 

"  Hev  all  the  week  for  Sunday,  and  make  the  fiilisterme  folks 
do  the  wuk,"  suggested  Uncle  Buck. 

"  But  ain't  you  a  gwin'  to  let  us  tote  our  women  and  children 
with  us  ?"  interrogated  another,  in  faltering  tones,  and  a  loud 
murmur  revealed  the  deep  anxiety  that  prevailed  as  to  the 
response. 

"  We  can  git  lots  of  white  gals  thar,"  cried  the  gallant  Han 
nibal  ;  "  they  must  lub  darkies  a  mighty  heap  up  'mong  the 
free  States,  if  they  make  sich  a  fuss  'bout  'em." 

"  But  we  don't  want  any  white  gals,"  shouted  the  majority; 
"  we'd  rather  have  our  own  wives  and  children." 

"  And  ye  shall  have  them,  my  dear  brethren,"  protested 
Jonathan ;  "  but  the  men  must  go  first,  and  travel  very 
fast,  so  the  ladies  and  little  ones  could  not  keep  up,  none  but 
young  girls,  who  can  walk  rapidly,  and  will  not  be  easily  tired." 


152  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

"How,  then,  will  we  git  the  balance  ov 'em  arter  wards?" 
exclaimed  the  dubious,  shaking  their  heads. 

"  I  will  tell  you,  my  friends,"  answered  the  ready-witted 
Jonathan  ;  "  the  Abolitionists  are  building  a  rail-road  to  run  all 
over  the  world.  They  have  already  got  it  more  than  half  done, 
and  the  rest  will  be  finished  next  year  ;  and  then  they  will  send 
a  big  steam-car  to  bring  on  your  women  and  children." 

"  A  steam-car  !  what  sort  of  a  fixin'  is  that  ?"  inquired  the 
multitude,  in  one  general  breath  of  amazement. 

"  O,"  said  the  ex-clock-peddler,  "it  is  an  immense  wagon, 
more  than  a  mile  long,  drawn  by  a  black  iron  horse,  stronger 
than  all  the  teams  on  the  earth,  running  faster  than  the  winql, 
and  roaring  louder  than  the  thunder.  He  breathes  lightning  at 
every  snort,  aud  will  not  feed  on  anything  but  fire  !" 

•''Oh  I  Lordy,  may  be  him  am  the  devil !"  exclaimed  the 
wonder-struck  auditors. 

"  Not  at  all  ;  he  is  only  an  iron  horse,  that  the  Yankees  have 
learned  to  make  ;  and  more  than  that,  they  are  now  creating  an 
iron  man,  who  will  do  all  the  work  !" 

"  The  fools  !"  complained  Tony;  "  they  ort  to  have  fixed  the 
iron  feller  fust,  and  then  he  mout  have  done  the  wuk-  on  the  hoss, 
and  the  raillurn-road  to  boot !" 

"  But  why  don't  'em  send  on  thar  iron  hoss,  and  carry  off 
our  gals  and  us  all  togedder  ?"  asked  another  sceptic. 

"  I  told  you  that  they  had  not  yet  completed  the  road," 
explained  Jonathan  ;  "  the  new  animal  is  very  particular  about 
the  path  he  travels.  He  refuses  to  walk  upon  any  substance 
meaner  than  his  own  metal,  and  if  you  try  his  temper,  or  differ 


THE    NEGRO    MEETING.  153 

from  his  taste,  he  kicks  up  his  heels,  and  smashes  the  waggon 
and  passengers  into  pieces  no  bigger  than  your  thumb,  or  pitches, 
out  of  spite,  into  the  first  lake  or  river  that  he  comes  to,  and 
all  sink  to  the  bottom.  But  if  you  humor  him,  and  treat  him 
kindly,  he  goes  gently  as  a  lamb." 

Every  body  appeared  to  be  thoroughly  satisfied  with  this 
explication,  and  after  dealing  with  a  variety  of  practical  details, 
the  assembly  adjourned,  to  meet  again  at  the  end  of  a  week. 

It  is  in  a  similar  manner,  that  thousands  of  slaves  are  annually 
enticed  away  from  their  masters,  all  over  the  southern  States, 
under  the  delusive  promises  dt  freedom.  Villains,  using  various 
pretexts,  and  often  assuming  the  garb  of  the  gospel,  as  pretended 
ministers  of  mercy,  wander  about  the  country,  and  the  instant 
when  they  find  a  disaffected  or  maltreated  servant,  they  present 
the  tempting  -lure,  and  proffer  assistance  for  a  flight  to  the 
northern  States  or  Canada.  If  the  ignorant  African  aecept  the 
proposition,  they  aid  him  to  run  off,  but  to  neither  of  the  pro 
mised  lands.  He  is  carried  farther  south,  and  sold  to  some 
unscrupulous  planter,  who  never  criticises  the  title,  provided  he 
can  purchase  the  article  at  a  fair  discount.  Indeed,  the  thief 
frequently  effects  the  bargain  with  the  negro's  own  consent,  who^ 
is  made  to  believe  that  he  will  share  the  profits  of  the  specula 
tion,  and  that  the  rogue  will  steal  him  back  again.  O  when 
shall  mankind  learn  the  great  lesson  taught  by  all  history  and 
human  experience,  and  which  has  all  the  logical  force  of  an 
a  priori  axiom,  that  no  being  of  mortal  mould,  ever  was,  or  will 
be  free,  with  a  soul  the  slave  of  ignorance,  or  servile  habit  ? 


t* 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE     NARROW    ESCAPE. 

ON  the  same  evening,  as  I  have  previously  mentioned, 
William  Boiling  and  his  beautiful  britfe,  that  was  to  be  on  the 
following  day,  still  lingered  in  the  balmy  air,  repeating  over  and 
over  again,  the  burning  vows  and  terms  of  tender  endearment, 
which  both  so  well  knew  already  by  heart.  The  sun  himsell  had 
long  sunk  beneath  the  glowing  glories  of  the  western  horizon, 
but  the  radiant  snow-blossoms  of  the  flowering  tree  above  their 
heads  still  seemed  to  keep  the  woods  in  sunlight,  and  the  bright- 
eyed  stars,  the  everlasting  poetry  of  love,  as  well  as  heaven, 
smiled  so  sweetly,  and  shed  such  living  lustre,  that  they  forgot 
the  absence  of  the  gaudy  day,  and  remembered  not  even  the 
presence  of  the  soft  and  silent  sister  night,  in  their  deep  and 
dreamy  unconsciousness  of  all  other  existence  but  their  own. 
What  had  they  to  fear,  these  pure  young  souls,  in  that 
first  purple  prime  of  their  innocent  love,  which,  in  chaste 
unhackneyed  hearts,  with  all  their  dews  of  the  morning  fresh  on 
the  flower-cups  of  life,  always  precedes  the  hour  of  fiery  and 
more  selfish  passion  ?  They  could  certainly  dread  no  danger 

154 


THE    NARROW    ESCAPE.  155 

from  each  other,  when  they  would  rather  have  died,  by  the  most 
cruel  of  physical  tortures,  than  to  harbor  a  doubt  of  their 
mutual  and  stainless  purity.  Nevertheless,  they  were  in  the 
very  presence  of  deadly  peril.  The  frowning  Fates  hovered 
around  them,  and  the  very  atmosphere  they  breathed  was  full  of 
mortal  poison,  as  the  dark  shade  of  that  Indian  tree,  whose 
piercing  odor  is  prompt  and  powerful  to  kill  as  the  lightning  of 

heaven  I 
i 
Suddenly  they  heard  a  rustling  in  the  green  boughs  behind 

them,  and  an  anxious  voice  cried  out  : 

"  Here,  Miss  Mary,  is  a  letter  for  you  ;  let  your  lover  fly 
instantly,  if  you  would  not  see  him  fall  a  bloody  corpse  at  your 
feet  !" 

The  strange  invisible  speaker  hurled  a  small  note  through  the 
air,  which  dropped  within  a  yard  of  where  they  stood,  and 
the  crash  of  tangled  brush  in  the  vicinity  told  that  he  was  hur 
rying  away. 

11  Stop  !  stop  !  and  tell  us  the  danger  !"  exclaimed  the  youth 
in  the  utmost  agitation,  while  the  maiden  stooped,  and  with 
quivering  fingers,  picked  up  the  mysterious  letter. 

"  Fly  !  fly  !  or  you  will  not  have  an  hour  to  live  1"  answered 
the  ominous  voice,  growing  fainter  and  more  far-off  in  the 
darkness,  while  a  hundred  dying  echoes,  from  all  the  whispering 
woods,  seemed  to  repeat  the  wild  warning,  "  fly  !  fly,  for  your 
life  1" 

'•  Let  us  hasten  to  the  house,  and  read  it,"  said  the  young 
man,  recovering  from  the  shock  of  the  astounding  announcement, 
and  leading  away  the  trembling  girl. 


156       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"Do  not  relate  the  circumstance  to  my  father,"  murmured 
Mary,  as  they  drew  near  the  dwelling  ;  "  my  heart  is  haunted 
by  a  terrible  foreboding  !  Oh,  God  !  can  it  be,  that  he  would 
yet  deceive  us,  as  uncle  Jack  feared !" 

They  gained  the  parlor,  where  the  colonel  welcomed  them  with 
apparent  kindness,  but  the  quick  perception  of  Boiling  detected 
unusual  emotion  and  terror  in  his  countenance  and  manner. 
His  features  looked  livid,  almost  corpse-like,  and  his  fingers 
shook,  as  if  charged  with  electricity. 

Mary  flew  to  the  lamp,  and  broke  open  the  note,  while  the 
youth  advanced  to  her  side,  and  glanced  over  the  contents  ; 
and  well  might  they  both  shudder  with  feelings  of  unmingled 
horror  and  alarm,  at  the  frightful  facts,  which  the  brief  words 
revealed. 

"Let  your  lover  fly  instantly  to  Major  Morrow's,"  urged  the 
letter  ;  "the  bandits  have  sworn  to  have  his  blood,  to-night. 
Nothing  can  save  him,  but  immediate  flight,  as  hundreds  will 
surround  the  house,  and  the  slaves  of  the  plantation  will  assist, 
if  necessary,  in  the  deed  of  murder  !  Trust  not  your  own  father, 
for  he  is  privy  to  the  plan,  and  dares  not  oppose  the  wishes  of 
Carlyle !  Do  not  attempt  to  go  now  with  your  lover,  for  the 
forest  is  swarmiug  with  his  foes,  arid  you  would  only  embarrass 
his  efforts  to  escape.  Keep  this  communication  an  inviolable 
secret,  and  burn  the  paper  that  bears  it,  if  you  would  not 
endanger  the  life  of  an  unknown  friend,  a  woman  beautiful  as 
yourself,  and  once  as  innocent,  until  betrayed  by  the  man-devil, 
whom  you  hate,  as  I  do.  But  fear  not,  sweet  Mary,  he  shall 
wed  the  hangman's  halter,  sooner  than  you  !" 


THE    NARROW   ESCAPE.  157 

The  maiden  whispered,  "  I  know  the  writer  ;  every  syllable  is 
true.  Delay  not  a  moment.  Fly  to  Major  Morrow's  ?" 

Boiling's  eyes  flashed  with  that  strange  wild  light  which 
beams  on  the  face  of  the  brave  in  the  hour  of  greatest  peril. 
He  instantly  formed  his  resolution.  First,  he  snatched  the  note 
out  of  Mary's  hand,  and  thrust  it  into  the  flame  of  the  lamp  ; 
then  he  rushed  to  his  room  for  his  weapons,  but  to  his  bitter 
dismay,  found  that  these  faithful  friends  had  been  secretly 
removed.  He  ran  back  into  the  parlor,  exclaiming  in  terrible 
tones,  "  Colonel,  I  must  leave  on  business  of  the  utmost  import 
ance,  this  very  minute  ;  my  pistols  have  been  stolen,  all  save  the 
two  small  deringers,  that  I  always  carry  about  my  person. 
Lend  me  your  large  revolver." 

"  I  cannot  spare  it,"  faltered  Miles  ;  "  but  why  this  hurry  ? 
why  run  away  to-night  ?" 

"  I  will  explain  it  all  to-morrow,"  said  Boiling,  sternly;  "  but 
you  must  spare  your  revolver  !"  and  he  snatched  the  weapon 
from  the  colonel's  belt,  and  cried,  "  now,  be  quick,  let  me  have 
my  horse  !" 

"I'll  git  him  fur  ye,  massa,"  remarked  a  great  mulatto,  who 
had  been  watching  the  scene,  with  a  countenance  denoting  deep 
and  sinister  interest. 

"  Then,  be  in  haste,  if  you  would  not  have  a  bullet  through 
your  brain  !  and  I'll  go  with  you  to  the  stable,"  shouted  the 
young  man,  and  both  he  and  the  slave  ran  out  of  the  room. 

In  a  few  seconds,  the  mulatto  led  his  horse  out  of  the  stall, 
and  observed,  "  massa,  I  can't  find  the  saddle  ;  I  must  blow  for 
Bill,  as  him  knows  whar  'tis."  Then  he  drew  from  his  pocket  a 


158  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OP   THE   TANAHA. 

small  whistle,  and  gave  a  loud  shrill  blast,  which  was  immediately 
answered  by  the  ringing  tones  of  a  bugle  from  the  bridge  above 
'the  Tanaha,  followed  by  the  thunder  of  flying  hoofs,  as  of  a  whole 
troop  of  cavalry  charging  towards  the  stable. 

"  Ha  !  traitor  !"  cried  Boiling,  as  he  felled  the  mulatto  to  the 
earth  with  one  blow  of  his  pistol,  and  seizing  the  bridle-reins, 
sprung  upon  Selim's  naked  back,  and  fled  in  a  different  direction 
from  the  point  where  the  bugle  had  sounded.  His  course  lay 
through  an  immense  field,  nearly  a  mile  long.  If  he  could  only 
gain  the  dense  thickets  of  the  bottom  beyond  the  fence,  he 
felt  he  would  be  safe;  but  hope  in  his  heart  almost  expired,  as  he 
made  the  discovery  that  his  horse  was  lame,  and  the  wild  yells 
of  his  pursuers  came  fiercer  and  faster  behind  him.  In  a  brief 
space  they  were  close  enough  to  begin  the  discharge  of  shots, 
and  bullets  whistled  their  death-notes  around  his  ears,  while  a 
stinging  sensation  in  his  side,  told  that  he  had  been  already 
touched. 

"  On,  Selim  1"  he  cried,  bravely  ;  "  a  hundred  yards  more, 
and  we'll  foil  the  devils  yet !"  and  he  plied  the  whip  and  spur 
with  the  energy  of  desperation. 

He  had  nearly  reached  the  fence,  and  the  noble  animal  gath 
ered  up  all  his  muscular  force  to  take  the  dangerous  leap,  and, 
bounding  high  in  the  air,  his  head  struck  an  overhanging  limb, 
and  he  fell  back  upon  his  rider.  The  latter  was,  however,  only 
partially  stunned  by  the  fall,  but  the  dying  horse  in  his  struggles 
had  rolled  upon  his  leg,  rendering  it  impossible  for  him  to 
rise  without  assistance.  His  doom  appeared  sealed.  There 
remained  not  a  semblance  of  a  hope.  The  triumphant  shout  of 


THE    NARROW   ESCAPE.  159 

a  hundred  bandits,  mixed  with  bursts  of  fiend-like  laughter,  rung 
around  him,  as  the  trumpet-tongue  of  Captain  Carlyle  exclaimed, 
"  Now,  boys,  give  him  a  shower  of  cold  lead  !  let  him  die 
easily  !" 

But  hardly  had  the  word  left  the  robber's  lips,  when  a  brilliant 
sheet  of  flame  wrapped  the  topmost  rail  of  the  fence  in  a  red 
wreath,  like  lightning,  while  an  appalling  peal,  as  of  thunder, 
roared  in  the  night-air,  and  shook  the  very  earth. 

"  What!  are  they  outside  in  the  forest,  as  well  as  in  the  field  ?" 
thought  the  youth,  but  he  immediately  perceived  that  the  com 
pany  in  the  bushes  were  mortal  foes  to  the  black  baud  ;  for  they 
instantly  dealt  them  another  volley,  that  emptied  several  saddles 
and  caused  many  more  to  wheel  their  horses,  and  gallop  away 
from  the  deadly  flash  of  that  unexpected  fire,  as  if  it  had  been 
the  smoking  crater  of  the  infernal  deep,  instead  of  a  discharge 
from  a  platoon  of  musketry. 

However,  tn*e  captain,  and  a  majority  of  his  men,  although 
taken  so  much  by  surprise,  did  not  recoil,  but  returned  the  leaden 
hail  with  their  revolvers. 

11  What  can  it  mean  ?  who  are  these  unknown  friends,  that 
now  do  battle,  perhaps  unconsciously,  to  save  my  life  ?"  said 
Boiling. 

At  the  moment,  the  hoarse  voice  of  Major  Morrow  fulminated 
behind  the  fence,  "Boys,  load  your  barrels  with  buck-shot,  that's 
the  right  sort  of  dose  to  make  the  rogues  puke  blood  I  never 
mind  the  measure  1  ram  down  a  handful  of  powder,  and  it  don't 
matter  how  much  lead  I" 

The  effect  of  this  savage  order  soon  became  manifest,  as  vol- 


160  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OF   THE   TAN  AH  A. 

ley  after  volley  rolled  in  swift  succession,  and,  at  last,  the  ban 
dits,  in  spite  of  the  threats  and  curses  of  their  commander,  broke 
and  fled  in  the  wildest  disorder,  and  he  himself  was  forced  to 
follow  them. 

The  lynchers  then  rushed  over  the  fence,  and  released  the 
young  man  from  his  painful  situation.  "  Who  are  you?"  inquired 
the  major,  failing,  at  first,  to  recognize  his  former  guest  in  the 
darkness,  rendered  all  the  deeper  from  its  contrast  with  the  pre 
vious  red  light  of  battle. 

"  William  Boiling,"  was  the  immediate  response  ;"  and  I  have 
to  thank  you,  as  I  do  most  heartily,  for  my  rescue  from  otherwise 
inevitable  death." 

"  You  may  well  say  that,"  replied  the  delighted  major  ;  "  for 
if  we  hadn't  been  in  the  brush,  and  popped  them  jist  when  we 
did,  your  body  would  have  been  buzzard-meat  in  less  than  half 
a  minute.  But  how  did  you  happen  here  ?  I  thought  you 
wur  at  Sol  Tattles." 

"  I  returned  yesterday." 

"Eh  !  jist  so  ;  followed  back  that  gal!  I  heerd  you  wurarter 
her,  and  I  said  then,  that  Carlyle  would  be  arter  you." 

The  chief  lyncher  then  turned  to  his  company  with  the  fero 
cious  order  :  "  Boys,  them  fellers  thar  on  the  ground  keep  an 
awful  groanin' ;  put  them  out  of  their  pain,  by  a  ball  in  each  of 
their  heads."  The  mandate  was  instantly  obeyed.  A  dozen 
pistols  exploded,  and  the  wounded  men  never  moaned  again. 

"  Were  you  hurt  in  the  affair,  Mr.  Boiling  ?"  interrogated 
the  Major  kindly. 

"  Very  little,"  was  the  reply,  "  I  received  a  scratch  in  the 


THE    NARROW    ESCAPE.  161 

side,  and  my  ankle  is  somewhat  bruised,  but  not  so  as  to  lame 
me." 

"  Is  the  colonel  at  the  house  ?"  asked  Morrow  eagerly. 

"  He  was  when  I  left." 

"  Then  let  us  march  on,  and  capture  him.  What  do  you  say 
to  it,  boys  ?" 

"  It  would  be  madness  to  attempt  it  with  our  present  force," 
answered  Parson  Johnson,  "  the  rogues  are  doubtless  all  there 
now,  numbering  at  least  a  hundred,  and  the  dwelling  is  itself  a 
block  house,  while  we  have  no  more  than  twenty-five  men. 
Most  of  the  party  concurred  in  this  rational  view  of  the  subject, 
and  it  was  resolved  to  leave  five  trusty  members  of  the  company 
as  spies  around  the  plantation,  while  the  rest  returned  to  their 
head-quarters  at  the  major's,  and  debated  ulterior  measures  in  a 
full  meeting.  Accordingly  the  youth  was  mounted  on  another 
horse,  the  property  of  one  who  remained  with  the  secret  guard, 
and  the  main  'body  proceeded  as  fast  as  they  could  to  their  des 
tination. 

It  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  describe  the  emotions  of  Wil 
liam  Boiling  during  the  silence  of  that  rapid  midnight  march. 
All  in  a  moment,  by  an  event  unexpected  as  the  coming  of  a  comet, 
and  awful  as  the  world  rocking  crash  of  an  earthquake,  he  had 
been  snatched,  as  it  were,  from  the  very  arms  of  his  beautiful 
bride,  the  night  before  their  intended  union.  From  the  ethereal 
heights,  the  golden  portals  of  his  promised  paradise,  on  the 
verge  of  the  blissful  bowers,  within  view  of  the  elysian  fields,  he 
had  been  suddenly  hurled  down  into  the  depths  of  unutterable 
darkness,  while  the  bottomless  gulf  of  despair,  rayless,  endless, 


162       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AHA. 

everlasting,  seemed  to  open  like  the  fiery  fissure  of  a  volcano, 
between  his  bosom  and  that  of  his  beloved,  the  forlorn,  the  lost, 
the  miserable,  yet  pure  and  sinless  Mary. 

He  pictured  her  to  his  breaking  heart,  as  struggling  in  the 
hateful  embraces  of  the  brutal  bandit,  or  weeping  at  the  feet  of 
her  obdurate,  unrelenting  father,  or  wringing  her  hands  in  the 
terrible  anguish  of  love  and  terror,  at  the  imaginary  idea  of  his 
own  bloody  doom,  until  he  groaned  with  unendurable  agony. 
Then  his  feverish  fancy  would  represent  her,  as  being  led  a  pale 
and  trembling  sacrifice  to  the  altar,  where  she  had  hoped  to 
stand,  blushing  and  bright  with  joy  on  the  morrow  by  his  side, 
but  in  his  stead  to  be  urged  and  overpowered  to  bestow  all 
the  virgin  sweetness  of  her  celestial  star-like  beauty,  upon  the 
diabolical  lust  of  an  outlaw  and  felon. 

Under  any  circumstances,  and  always,  the  imagination  forms 
the  fiery  climax  of  accursed  torture,  to  conceive  the  woman  that 
we  love  as  life  itself,  in  the  actual,  tangible  possession  of  another, 
yes,  even  when  we  are  conscious  that  his  caresses  cause  no  pain, 
or  perchance  may  be  returned  with  equal  fervor.  But  when  we 
know  that  every  kiss  impressed  upon  her  shuddering  lips,  embod 
ies  the  piercing  pangs  of  a  crucifixion,  and  that  the  touch  of  his 
very  finger,  however  light,  on  her  trembling  flesh,  will  sear  it 
like  a  branding  iron,  that  his  breath  on  her  cheek  is  hateful  as 
the  hot  blast  from  a  furnace,  and  that  his  whispers  in  her  horri 
fied  ears,  sting  her  brain  as  scorpions — then,  oh  !  then,  we  feel 
the  poverty  of  human  language  to  express  our  nameless  emotion, 
this  raving  and  madness  of  the  mind,  this  frenzy  of  fire  in  the 
heart,  this  bewildering  hell  of  all  the  passions. 


THE    NARROW    ESCAPE.  163 

But  occasionally  the  young  lover  indulged  in  more  practical 
but  not,  on  that  account,  less  gloomy  reflections.  He  could  no 
longer  doubt  that  Colonel  Miles  was  a  member  of  the  black  band, 
and  as  hardened  a  villain  as  the  worst  among  them,  but  although 
the  fact  could  not  change  his  own  infinite  tenderness  for  the  rob 
ber's  daughter,  and  would  not  shake  his  purpose  to  receive  her 
as  a  bride,  still  he  could  not  but  feel  that  his  parent  would  view 
the  matter  in  a  very  different  light,  and  would  never  forgive  the 
disgrace  of  such  a  marriage.  His  attachment  to  all  his  relations 
and  friends,  was  deep,  devoted,  and  ardent,  as  might  well  be 
inferred  from  his  profoundly  earnest  character  ;  and  hence,  he 
could  not  look  forward  without  extreme  agitation  and  grief  to 
the  inevitable  estrangement  of  his  family,  and  all  the  consequen 
ces  of  a  breach  that  never  could  be  healed.  And  if  he  turned 
for^relief  from  this  harrowing  thought,  it  was  only  to  plunge 
again  into  the  sunless  depths  of  that  seemingly  eternal  gulf  of 
separation,  which  now  yawned  like  a  grave,  between  his  hopes 
and  that  dear  one,  the  dark-eyed  and  dark-haired,  the  divine 
angel  of  his  dreams,  all-beautiful  as  all-beloved,  without  the 
radiance  of  whose  celestial  smiles  the  earth  would  be  but  a  per 
petual  prison-house,  and  all  the  bright  stars  mere  flakes  of  infer 
nal  fire,  bubbles  on  the  dark  sea  of  measureless  night,  which  des 
pair  had  hung  as  in  immortal  mockery  in  the  firmament  of 
heaven,  now  heaven  no  more  forever. 

In  the  meantime,  a  scene  of  still  wilder  and  more  violent,  if 

not  deeper   sorrow,   was   enacted  at  the  residence  of  Colonel 

JMiles.     The  foiled  and  defeated  bandits  flew  back  to  that  strong 

position,  expecting  the  lynchers  would  pursue  and  attack  them. 


164  BANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF  THE   TANAHA. 

But  as  hours  passed  by,  without  any  signs  of  such  an  assault, 
the  probability  diminished,  and  they  abandoned  the  conclusion. 
However,  they  determined  to  remain  in  the  block-house  during 
the  rest  of  the  night,  and  stationed  their  sentinels,  and  took  all 
other  necessary  precautions  to  prevent  surprise. 

The  rage  of  Captain  Carlyle  at  the  result  surpassed  all  bounds. 
Pale  as  the  snowy  linen  of  his  own  shirt-bosom,  he  rushed  into 
the  parlor,  and  searched  the  four  corners  with  a  glance  like 
lightning,  for  the  figure  that  was  not  there. 

"  Have  you  killed  him  ?"  inquired  Colonel  Miles,  in  a  hoarse 
whisper,  as  he  crept  softly  as  a  cat  to  the  assassin's  side. 

"Where  is  Mary  ?"  exclaimed  Carlyle  in  a  voice  of  thunder, 
not  deigning  any  answer  to  the  other's  question.  In  the  terrible 
concentration  of  his  mind,  perhaps,  he  did  not  even  hear  it. 

"  In  her  room,"  responded  the  father. 

"  Go,  and  bring  her." 

"  Oh,  captain,  she  is  unwell — she  is  in  convulsions  !"  faltered 
the  colonel,  awed  into  an  ague  himself,  by  Carlyle's  look  and 
manner. 

"  Do  you  hear  me  ?"  shouted  the  arch-robber,  in  still  more 
furious  tones  ;  "  I  say,  go  and  bring  her  dead  or  alive ;  or  I  will 
go  and  bring  her  myself  1"  and  he  made  three  steps  towards  the 
door. 

"  Stay  !"  cried  the  frightened  father  ;  "  I  am  going  j  she 
shall  come  immediately  ;"  and  he  ran  to  his  daughter's  apart 
ment. 

A  vision  met  his  eyes  such  as  might  have  exorcised  the  foul 
fiend  from  his  heart,  had  it  not  been  bound  by  fetters  of  steel 


THE   NARROW   ESCAPE.  165 

from  the  infernal  forge.  Mary  had  recovered  from  the  effects  of 
mere  physical  agitation.  All  the  agony  was  henceforth  in  the 
mind.  For  this  is  the  deepest,  the  most  insoluble  mystery  of 
grief  in  this  wide  world  of  woe,  the  chief  problem  of  mysteries 
where  all  is  mysterious,  that  the  greatest  sorrow  manifests  itself 
by  few  outward  signs.  The  brook  bubbles  and  brawls  ;  the  dark 
river,  that  drains  the  valleys  and  mountains  of  a  continent,  rolls 
its  deep-volumed  waters  to  the  sea  in  the  sublime  might  of 
sullen  silence.  Petty  vexation  raves  and  rends  its  loose  ringlets  ; 
infinite  despair  is  awfully  calm,  still  as  Eternity  I 

Mary  was  bowed  on  her  knees,  with  clasped  hands,  pallid 
face,  earnest  eyes,  and  white,  unwavering  prayer-murmuring  lips, 
raised  with  a  mournful,  appealing  look  towards  heaven.  She 
seemed  some  divine  Madonna  incarnated,  an  embodied  dream  of 
unutterable  sadness,  the  idealized  image  of  a  soul  all  sorrow,  but 
no  sin  1 

"  Mary  I"  said  the  awed  father  in  a  low  voice.  "  Mary  1"  he 
repeated  louder.  The  young  girl  arose  and  approaching  him 
slowly,  with  her  earnest,  melancholy  eyes  fixed  on  his  face,  asked 
in  a  faint  whisper,  "  Where  is  my  William  ?" 

"I  know  not,"  gasped  the  colonel ;  "  but  you  are  wanted  in 
the  parlor." 

"  I  will  go,"  she  answered  eagerly,  and  hurried  down  the 
stairs.  Her  father  was  astonished  at  this  striking  change  in  her 
demeanor,  and  especially  at  her  ready  acquiescence  in  the 
proposed .  interview  with  the  bandit,  when  he  had  anticipated 
such  a  stormy  scene,  and  even  the  necessity  of  employing 
force. 


166  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

As  soon  as  she  entered  the  room  her  dark  eyes  flashed  light 
ning,  and  she  demanded  sternly  ;  "  Robber,  assassin,  where  is 
my  William,  my  idol,  the  husband  of  my  heart  T' 

"  Dead,  and  in  hell  1"  roared  the  villain,  gnashing  his  teeth, 
and  foaming  at  the  mouth,  in  a  convulsion  of  rage  ;  "  I  shot  him 
with  my  own  hand  ;  his  flesh  will  feed  the  wolves  to-night,  and 
the  ravens  to-morrow  !  but  you  may  have  his  white  bones  for 
toys,  if  you  like.  It  will  be  all  that  you  evermore  shall  see  of 
your  dainty  lover  !" 

Her  beautiful  face  recovered  its  glow,  and  beamed  with  its  old 
starlight  smile,  as  she  answered  in  joyous  accents  ;  "  It  is  false, 
as  your  own  black  heart  !  If  he  were,  indeed,  dead,  you  would 
laugh  and  sing,  instead  of  storming  like  a  madman.  He  is 
alive  !  I  may  thank  your  countenance  for  telling  the  truth, 
notwithstanding  the  lie  on  your  foul-foamed  lips  !  And  you  fled 
from  his  honorable  arm,  like  a  coward,  as  you  are  !" 

"  Speak  another  word,  and  I  will  murder  you  1"  exclaimed 
the  raving  wretch,  grasping  the  hilt  of  his  bowie-knife. 

"That  would  be  in  perfect  keeping  with  your  character," 
remarked  Mary,  scornfully. 

The  captain  made  a  powerful  effort,  and  mastered  his  passion. 
He  spoke  in  sneering  tones,  and  with  a  cruel  smile  ;  "  Well,  it 
matters  not,  Mary  ;  for  you  must  wed  me  to-night." 

"  Never,  never  I"  cried  the  young  girl  ;  "  I  would  rather  die 
by  my  own  act  !"  and  she  thrust  her  hand  into  her  bosom,  and 
something  gleamed  between  her  fingers  like  polished  silver. 

"  Shall  it  not  be  as  I  say,  colonel  ?"  interrogated  Carlyle, 
with  a  threatening  frown. 


THE   NARROW    ESCAPE.  16t 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  faltering  father,  quivering  as  a  storm- 
swept  leaf. 

"  Men,  do  you  hear  this  ?"  exclaimed  Mary,  turning  to  the 
crowd  of  robbers  at  the  door,  with  the  grand  air  of  a  queen  ; 
"  did  you  imagine  that  any  soul  in  the  human  form  could  be  so 
mean,  as  to  marry  a  woman,  who  loathes  him  as  a  black  spider, 
who  would  commit  a  thousand  suicides  rather  than  touch  his 
blood-polluted  bosom.  Remember  your  own  mothers  and  sweet 
sisters  in  other  lands,  and  rebuke  this  brute,  as  he  deserves  !" 

» "  It  is  a  burning  shame  !"  cried  fifty  voices,  while  an  angry 
murmur  told  of  still  deeper  indignation. 

Suddenly,  a  horseman  galloped  into  the  yard,  crying,  "  Hasten, 
captain,  a  hundred  men  have  surrounded  your  house,  a  dozen  of 
ours  are  endeavoring  to  defend  it.  Be  quick,  before  the  lynch- 
ers  burn  it  to  the  ground  1" 

Not  an  instant  was  to  be  lost,  and  the  robbers  hurried  away. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   BATTLE   AT  THE    BLOCK   HOUSE JUDGE   MOORE. 

THE  key  of  explanation  to  the  events  which  I  have  just  related, 
as  well  as  to  those  about  to  be  described,  may  be  furnished  in  a 
few  words.  The  secret  committee  of  the  lynchers,  aware  that 
they  could  no  longer  conceal  their  purposes,  determined  to  take 
their  enemies  by  surprise,  before  any  adequate  preparations  had 
been  arranged  for  resistance,  and  with  this  view  they  dispatched 
strong  parties  to  arrest  all  suspected  persons  on  the  same  night, 
hoping  thus  to  prevent  an  organization  of  the  robbers,  and  to 
strike  the  friends  of  law  and  order  with  such  dismay  and  con 
sternation  as  would  effectually  deter  them  from  opposing  the 
movements  of  the  mob.  We  have  witnessed  the  unsuccessful 
result  of  their  attempt  to  capture  Colonel  Miles,  an  achievement 
which  they  had  expected  to  accomplish  with  little  difficulty. 
Their  greatest  apprehension  concerned  Captain  Carlyle,  and 
accordingly  they  had  sent  against  his  block-house,  a  select  force 
of  more  than  a  hundred  men,  commanded  by  Fete  Whetstone, 
one  of  the  most  terrible  desperadoes,  belonging  to  their  company. 

As  it  happened,  however,  fortunately  for  the  robbers,  a  small 
troop  of  some  twenty  bandits,  from  their  camp  at  Soda  Lake, 


THE   BATTLE   AT   THE    BLOCK    HOUSE JUDGE    MOORE.  169 

arrived  at  the  stronghold  a  few  minutes  before  the  appearance 
of  the  iynchers,  and  the  alarm  being  given  by  the  sentinels,  who 
had  been  stationed  around  the  farm,  the  out  laws  flew  to  the 
port-holes,  and  made  a  desperate  defence.  In  this  they  were 
aided  by  the  beautiful  Lucy,  whose  coolness,  courage,  and  aston- 

+> 

ishing  presence  of  mind,  excited  the  wonder  and  admiration  of 
the  bravest  among  the  band.  With  glowing  cheeks  and  flashing 
eyes,  and  seemingly  reckless  of  her  own  safety,  she  rushed  to 
every  point  where  the  rifles  roared  loudest,  and  the  danger 
menaced  most,  inspiring  the  defenders  with  her  enthusiastic 
ardor,  and  even  discharging  the  weapons  of  death  with  her  deli 
cate,  yet  daring  hands.  In  short,  she  resembled  an  infernal  fury 
more  than  a  woman,  and  the  ruffians  awed  by  her  unparalleled 
and  almost  preternatural  energy,  suffered  her  to  assume  the 
leadership,  and  obeyed  every  mandate  of  her  stern  unwavering 
voice,  without  a  murmur. 

Four  times  had  they  already  repelled  the  fierce  assaults  of 
their  foes*  when  the  thundering  tones  of  Pete  Whetstone  rung  in 
the  night-air,  "  Be  quick,  boys,  set  fire  to  the  nigger  cabins,  we'll 
burn  them  out,  like  possums  in  a  holler  tree  1" 

In  a  few  minutes  the  effect  of  this  ruthless  order  became  appa 
rent.  Half  a  hundred  huts,  combustible  as  tinder,  at  the  dis 
tance  of  twenty  paces  from  the  house,  were  all  at  once  kindled, 
and  shot  up  as  many  tall  pyramids  of  crimson  flame,  which  soon 
mingled  into  a  hot  roaring  hurricane,  shedding  over  the  scene 
a  horrible  illumination,  and  revealing  the  fierce  visages  of  the 
combatants  in  the  awful  strife,  like  raging  devils  in  the  red  light 
of  purgatory. 


170        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AHA. 

The  wind,  however,  suddenly  sprung  up,  and  carried  the  bil 
lows  of  the  blazing  sea  in  a  different  direction  from  the  dwelling. 
Only  once  the  roof  ignited,  and  the  lynchers  uttered  a  deafening 
shout  of  ferocious  triumph,  considering  the  issue  of  the  battle  as 
inevitably  decided.  ".Fly  up  the  stairs,  open  the  trap-door,  and 
quench  the  boards  which  have  caught  fire,  with  a  wet  blanket," 
exclaimed  Lucy. 

"  No  man  can  show  his  head  there,  without  a  rifle  ball  through 
his  brains  J"  was  the  unanimous  reply. 

"  Then,  a  woman  will  dare  do  it,"  cried  the  undaunted  hero 
ine,  and  rushing  out  upon  the  roof,  she  instantly  extinguished  the 
flame. 

"  Shoot  her  down  !"  shouted  Pete  Whetstone,  and  a  volley 
of  bullets  whistled  about  her  ears,  but  not  a  single  shot  touched 
her,  for,  doubtless,  those  wild  backwoodsmen  were  moved  by  her 
bravery  and  beauty,  as  well  as  by  the  novelty  of  the  spectacle,  to 
spare  their  fair  enemy,  and  therefore  aimed  their  guns  so  as  to 
miss  so  lovely  a  mark. 

Nevertheless,  if  such  was  the  fact,  Lucy  did  not  seem  to  appre 
ciate  the  generosity  of  their  forbearance,  for  with  a  disdainful 
smile,  she  snatched  a  small  deringer  from  her  bosom,  and  return 
ing  the  fire,  brought  one  of  the  lynchers  to  the  ground,  and 
immediately  disappeared  within  the  block-house.  The  company 
raised  a  maddened  yell,  and  the  savage  voice  of  the  desperate 
leader  fulminated,  "  Charge  again,  boys  1  break  into  the  door, 
at  all  hazards,  and  the  coward  who  retreats  this  time,  I  will  pis 
tol  with  my  own  hands  1" 

The  party  rushed  forward  in  a  body,  and  attacked  the  solid 


THE    BATTLE    AT  THE    BLOCK    HOUSE JUDGE   MOORE.  I'll 

shutters  with  axes  and  sledge  hammers.  Several  of  them  fell, 
but  others  took  their  place,  while  the  port-holes  blazed  inces 
santly  with  adverse  rifles,  muzzle  to  muzzle,  and  shouts,  shrieks, 
moans,  and  mingled  curses  rent  the  air. 

At  last  the  door  began  to  give  way,  before  the  hail  of  heavy 
blows.  The  wood  opened  in  deep  fissures,  the  iron  bands  bent, 
and  all  the  hinges  started.  The  doom  of  the  little  garrison 
could  be  delayed  no  longer,  and  even  the  heroic  Lucy  called  out 
for  a  parley. 

"  Pound  away,  men,  we'll  be  at  them  in  a  moment.  Show  the 
robbers  no  quarter  !  they  have  killed  half  a  dozen  of  our  boys  1" 
exclaimed  Pete  Whetstone,  in  merciless  accents. 

11  And  let  me  shoot  the  she-wolf,  who  has  slain  my  poor 
brother  I"  cried  a  more  youthful  voice. 

But  at  the  instant,  when  all  hope  seemed  to  abandon  the  side 
of  the  defence,  the  bugle-blast  of  Comanche  Ben  sounded  within 
a  hundred  yards,  and  Captain  Carlyle,  with  his  whole  troop, 
charged  through  the  ranks  of  the  astonished  and  panic-stricken 
lynchers.  This  unexpected  and  most  timely  relief,  determined  the 
fortune  of  the  fight.  For  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  of  their 
commander,  the  regulators  broke  and  fled  in  the  utmost  confusion, 
leaving  half  a  score  of  their  company  dead,  or  wounded,  in  the 
yard. 

The  slender  garrison  issued  from  the  door,  crying,  "  Welcome, 
noble  captain,  we  owe  our  safety  to  the  courage  of  this  brave 
woman!"  and  they  pointed  with  gestures  of  boundless  admiration 
to  the  slight  form  of  Lucy,  who  leaped  into  the  arms  of  her  former 
lover,  with  a  shout  of  simulated  joy  and  tenderness,  her  black 


172       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

eyes  gleaming  with  a  strange  unearthly  lustre,  and  her  fine 
features  begrimed  with  the  smoke  of  gunpowder. 

The  pair  hastened  into  the  library,  where  the  heroine  enumer 
ated  all  the  details  of  the  affair.  Even  Carlyle  betrayed,  by  his 
countenance,  some  tokens  of  his  old  affection,  as  he  said  to  him 
self,  "  I  can  never  more  doubt  her  fidelity  to  my  interests,  and 
may  securely  trust  her  with  the  secrets  of  my  soul." 

"Did  you  succeed  in  ridding  yourself  of  that  rival  for  the 
hand  of  Mary  ?"  inquired  the  artful  woman,  in  the  most  loving 
accents. 

"  No,  unfortunately  the  bird  got  frightened  somehow,  and 
managed  to  escape,"  replied  the  other,  in  tones  of  irritation. 

"  I  have  thought  of  a  plan  by  which  you  might,  perhaps, 
win  the  proud  beauty  sooner  than  by  any  other  means,"  sug 
gested  Lucy,  embracing  him  with  apparently  unusual  fondness. 

"  What  is  it  ?"  he  inquired,  with  eagerness  and  amaze 
ment. 

"  Let  me  be  introduced  to  her  as  your  sister,  and  if  I  cannot 
effect  anything  by  argument  or  persuasion,  I  can,  at  least,  act 
as  a  spy  upon  her  actions." 

A  shadow  of  suspicion  flitted  across  the  brow  of  the  bandit, 
but  Lucy's  dark  eyes  seemed  so  free  from  guile,  and  full  of  infinite 
tenderness,  that  the  doubt  vanished  almost  as  quickly  as  it 
came,  and  he  murmured,  "  that  is  a  most  excellent  idea,  my 
dear  ;  I  will  put  it  into  execution  in  the  morning,  and  remember 
you  for  your  trusting  confidence,  as  long  as  I  have  life." 

"And  not  even  forget  it  in  death  !"  she  said  in  her  heart  ; 
but  her  syren  lips  whispered  in  his  ear,  "  I  am  so  anxious  to 


THE    BATTLE    AT   THE    BLOCK    HOUSE — JUDGE    MOORE.  173 

realize  our  fortune,  and  leave  this  odious  country,  that  I  could 
even  endure  banishment  from  your  bosom,  in  order  to  attain  this 
most  cherished  hope  of  my  soul,  since  an  age  of  enjoyment  would 
afterwards  compensate  me  for  a  few  years  of  self-denial." 

"  Oh  !  Lucy,  what  a  treasure  I  have  found  in  you!'  exclaimed 
the  deluded  man,  as  he  pressed  her  to  his  heart. 

"  You  will  learn  more  of  my  true  character,  the  longer  you 
know  me,"  she  answered,  returning  his  caresses. 

Let  us  turn  from  this  scene  of  hypocrisy,  where  these  criminal 
souls,  like  two  cunning  spiders,  were  essaying  to  weave  around 
each  other  their  artful  toils,  to  note  the  progress  of  a  third 
party  of  regulators,  who  had  been  deputed  to  arrest  one  of  their 
most  abhorred  enemies. 

It  was  the  hour  of  midnight,  but  the  mansion  of  Judge  Moore, 
chief  justice  of  the  county  court,  was  still  illuminated,  and  all 
the  inmates,  with  many  relatives  and  friends,  remained  awake  in 
the  parlor.  The  band  of  a  dozen  lynchers  approached  the  door 
and  windows,  with  stealthy  steps,  as  the  wolf  glides  to  the  sheep- 
fold,  and  gazed  into  the  hall.  One  might  have  imagined  that 
the  vision  which  met  their  eyes,  would  have  changed  their  pitiless 
purpose,  even  if  their  hearts  had  been  hard  as  fragments  of  the 
mountain  granite.  For  although  the  apartment  revealed  at 
least  fifty  forms,  old  and  young,  of  both  sexes,  no  music  or  merry 
dancing,  no  jest  or  jovial  conversation,  no  witty  remark,  or  light 
ringing  laugh  might  be  heard.  Even  the  occasional  whispers, 
uttered,  at  distant  intervals,  were  hushed,  and  inaudible  at  three 
inches  from  the  sad  listener's  ear.  Now  and  then,  only,  a  low 
heart-breaking  sob  disturbed  the  awful,  grave-like  silence,  the 


174        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

oppressive  and  mournful  calmness  of  the  place.  Hold  your 
breath  ;  tread  softly  ;  for  this  is  the  dreary  chamber  where  pale 
death  reigns  without  a  rival  ! 

Lo  !  an  elderly  lady,  in  sable  robes,  sits  near  the  head  of  the 
corpse,  with  her  wrinkled  visage  bowed  upon  her  withered  hands, 
and  her  wan  lips  trembling  with  speechless  prayer.  That  is  the 
grandmother,  who  mourns  in  vain  for  her  murdered  idol,  and 
refuses  even  the  consolations  of  the  divine  faith,  which  never 
before  has  failed  her  in  the  life-battle  of  fifty  long  years  ! 

But  where  is  the  nearer  and  dearer  bosom,  which  once  bore 
this  beautiful  boy,  now  beautiful  no  more,  but  a  cold,  clammy, 
horrible  thing,  feared  by  the  living,  who  loved  him  most — au 
object  so  utterly  loathsome,  than  even  the  entreaties  of  his  weep 
ing  twin-sister  can  no  longer  prevent  the  irrevocable  doom,  and 
to-morrow  he  must  be  hidden  away  out  of  human  sight,  in 
the  eternal  gloom  of  the  hideous,  hollow  earth  ?  Say,  where  is 
she,  who  watched  his  infancy,  and  smiled  with  glowing  fondness 
and  pride  upon  his  youth,  she  to  whose  eyes  his  own  smile 
seemed  brighter  than  the  lustre  of  any  star  in  the  firmament  ? 
Can  the  mother  abandon  her  child,  although  it  has  become  but 
a  mass  of  disgusting  clay  ?  Alas  !  hear  ye  not  the  faint  moans 
in  the  adjacent  room,  from  that  bed  of  torture,  whither  they 
carried  her  after  the  fearful  swoon,  when  the  bloody  body  was 
brought  home,  and  from  which  it  is  doubtful  whether  she  will 
ever  rise  again  ? 

A  man  of  middle  size,  with  a  large  bald  head,  high  full  fore 
head,  and  penetrating  eyes  of  the  purest  azure,  with  a  counte 
nance  still  stern  in  all  its  solemn  sadness,  paces  back  and  for- 


THE    BATTLE    AT    THE    BLOCK    HOUSE— JUDGE    MOORE.  175 

ward,  the  length  of  the  room,  with  his  thin  lips  compressed,  and  all 
his  features  rigid  as  a  man  of  marble,  and  entirely  without  ges 
tures,  save  when  he  lifts  his  right  hand  to  his  brow  with  a  con 
vulsive  grasp,  as  if  to  repress  some  burning  pang  in  the  brain. 
That  is  the  father,  the  great  land-speculator,  the  proud,  wealthy, 
and  ambitious  Judge  Moore,  and  of  all  the  suffering  souls  in  that 
habitation  of  sorrow,  perhaps  he  suffers  most.  In  stubborn, 
haughty  natures,  the  agony  within,  is  all  the  more  terrible, 
because  through  the  iron  crust  of  habit,  it  can  find  no  outlet  for 
the  discharge  of  its  immense  emotions.  It  is  like  the  central 
fires  of  the  earth,  when  all  their  old  volcanic  craters  have  been 
stopped  up,  when  the  burning  billows  roll  beneath  the  deep 
foundations  of  the  Alps  and  Andes,  and  the  rock-ribbed  world 
trembles,  as  if  in  the  throes  of  final  dissolution.  When  tears 
flow,  they  are  a  sweet  medicine  to  the  "  mind  diseased."  As  the 
melting  of  snows  in  the  mild  months  of  spring,  they  bear  away 
the  icy  burden  from  the  heart,  and  the  flowers  of  our  life  renew 
their  perfume  and  verdure,  while  heavenly  hope,  like  a  singing 
bird,  comes  back  again,  with  its  old  unforgotten  music.  But  all 
the  moisture  of  the  eye,  too  stern  to  weep,  changes  to  eternal 
frost,  and  lies  upon  the  overladen  brain  and  bosom,  like  sunless 
snow  drifts  at  the  frozen  pole  !  Thus  felt  that  worldly  father, 
and  he  would  have  willingly  bartered  half  his  enormous  fortune, 
the  fruits  of  long  laborious  seasons,  and  of  subtle  scheming,  for 
the  luxury  of  delicious  tears. 

A  more  youthful  form  stood  near  the  chimney,  with  his  left 
elbow  resting  on  the  mantel,  and  his  right  hand  thrust  into  his 
bosom,  as  if  clutching  the  hilt  of  a  dagger,  while  his  piercing 


176        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

blue  eyes  never  ceased  to  stare,  with  a  terrible  look,  upon  the 
livid  features  of  the  dead.  The  young  man  was  about  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  with  a  fierce,  yet  handsome  face,  a  low  massive 
forehead,  and  a  figure  of  the  ordinary  height,  but  large  limbed 
and  muscular,  denoting  vast  power  and  activity.  His  florid 
complexion  showed  signs  of  early  dissipation,  and  his  common 
plebeian  countenance  evinced  the  predominance  of  animal  passion 
over  the  nobler  faculties  of  the  intellect.  This  was  the  elder  son, 
Alfred  Moore,  who  had  just  arrived  from  San  Antonio,  after  a 
year's  absence.  He  had  listened  to  the  horrible  details  in 
gloomy  silence,  and  had  not  even  so  much  as  spoken  since  he 
had  entered  the  house,  while  his  gaze  remained  fixed  upon  the 
corpse,  as  if  he  were  endeavoring  to  read  in  the  pale  lines  of 
that  appalling  visage,  the  awful  secrets  of  life  and  death. 

Suddenly  the  door  of  an  adjoining  room  opens,  and  a  young 
girl  glides  in,  and  kneeling  down  beside  the  dead,  cries  in  heart 
rending  tones  ;  *'  Oh,  my  brother  !  Oh,  my  poor  murdered 
brother  !  would  to  God  that  I  could  sleep  in  the  same  cold 
grave,  as  I  once  slept  in  the  same  ^arm  cradle,  with  thee,  my 
playmate,  my  idol,  my  dearest  Albert  !"  She  bathes  the  face  of 
the  corpse  with  tears,  she  smoothes  its  golden  hair  with  her  hands, 
she  seeks  to  renew  the  warmth  of  those  icy  lips  with  countless 
kisses  !  She  folds  her  arms  around  that  sheeted  bosom  which 
shall  beat  with  a  love-throbbing  heart  never  more  till  the  final 
fire.  She  murmurs  words  of  fond  endearment  in  those  deaf  arid 
stony  ears,  which  even  thunder  shall  never  startle  again,  until 
the  world-waking  reverberations  of  the  archangel's  trump  shall 
split  the  crystalline  vault  of  heaven,  and  shake  the  highest  stars 


Suddenly  the  door  of  an  adjoining  room  opens,  and  a  young  girl  glides  in,  and  kneel 
ing  down  beside  the  dead,  cries  in  heart-rending  tones!  "  Oh,  my  brother!  Oh,  my 
poor  murdered  brother !  would  to  God  that  I  could  sleep  in  the  same  cold  grave,  as  I 
once  slept  in  the  same  warm  cradle,  with  thee,  my  playmate,  my  idol,  my  dearest 
Albert  '."—PAGE  1TG. 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  BLOCK  HOUSE- — JUDG2  MOORE.     177 

from  their  orbits  !  Her  grief  affected  the  most  frigid  among 
the  spectators,  and  tears  fell  upon  the  floor  like  rain.  The 
father,  however,  did  not  weep,  but  groaned  aloud,  and  struck 
his  lofty  forehead  with  both  his  hands.  The  eldest  son  at  the 
fireplace  frowned  till  his  eyebrows  met,  and  half  unsheathing  his 
bowie-knife  muttered  some  inaudible  vow  of  vengeance. 

To  the  veriest  stranger,  the  relationship  of  the  young  girl 
to  the  deceased  must  have  been  apparent.  She  was,  indeed,  his 
twin-sister,  the  most  famous  belle  of  the  republic,  the  rumor  of 
whose  charms  had  been  circulated  by  travellers  to  the  remotest 
confines  of  Texas.  Her  full  yet  graceful  figure,  and  fair  regu 
lar,  rosy,  features,  had  their  rivals,  it  is  true.  The  golden  ring 
lets  of  her  sunny  hair  might,  perhaps,  be  equalled.  A  hundred 
voices  might  be  found  with  liquid  cadences  as  bewitching  as  hers. 
There  were  other  lips  as  rich  in  lustre,  and  other  limbs  as  round 
and  tapering.  But  you  might  wander  over  the  world  in  vain 
without  meeting  such  a  pair  of  eyes,  so  large,  so  luminous,  so 
celestially  blue,  as  if  formed  out  of  a  fresh  piece  of  heaven's  own 
summer  azure,  and  filled  with  starlight  from  the  evening  sky. 
You  might  watch  her  in  sleep  without  the  danger  of  emotion. 
The  view  of  her  profile  would,  perhaps,  leave  your  heart 
unscathed,  but  the  instant  that  she  turned  upon  you  those 
beaming  cerulean  orbs,  with  that  matchless,  soul-melting  smile, 
your  heart  like  a  trembling  eastern  slave,  in  spite  of  the  reason, 
would  bow  down  and  adore  at  the  feet  of  the  queen  of  beauty, 
the  starry-eyed  goddess  of  irresistible  love.  Such  was  the  para 
gon  of  Texas,  Jenny  Moore.  But  the  living  lustre  of  that 
faultless  face  was  now  dimmed  with  tears,  and  pale  with  sorrow- 

8* 


- 


178       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

fill  vigils  ;  and  during  two  terrible  nights  of  bereavement  and 
woe,  those  two  eyes  had  seen  nothing  save  the  ghastly  visage  of 
the  dead  ;  and  still  she  wept  and  implored  that  they  would  not 
bury  him  away  from  her  sight  and  tender  caresses. 

All  at  once,  a  loud  knocking  was  heard  at  the  door.  One  of 
the  guests  opened  the  shutter,  and  a  dozen  armed  men  rushed 
into  the  room,  headed  by  the  huge  form  of  Bill  Minton,  brother 
to  the  murderer  of  that  darling  son,  the  corpse  over  which  the 
family  and  their  friends  were  now  mourning.  Every  person 
present  arose,  except  the  twin-sister,  who  was  so  absorbed  in 
her  grief,  that  she  did  not  seem  to  notice  the  ominous  intrusion. 

The  leader  of  the  lynchers  first  broke  the  awful  silence,  with  a 
thundering,  harsh  voice,  as  brutal  as  his  phraseology  : 

"  Old  land-pirate,  you  are  wanted  !" 

Judge  Moore  gazed  at  the  speaker  sternly,  and  then  pointed 
his  long  unwavering  fore-finger,  without  uttering  a  word,  at  the 
corpse  of  his  son  1  His  haughty,  yet  unutterably  sad  counte 
nance  looked  sublime.  The  unmoving  mute  finger  appeared  to 
say,  "  There  is  my  answer  !  Assassins,  behold  your  work  !" 
But  all  the  while,  the  eldest  son  stood  with  his  left  elbow  on  the 
mantel-piece,  and  his  right  hand  played  with  the  hilt  of  his  dagger. 

"Do  you  not  hear  us,  old  cuss  ?"  vociferated  Bill  Minton ;  "I 
say,  you're  wanted  1" 

"  By  whom  ?"  asked  the  judge  in  calm,  severe  accents. 

"  By  the  committee  of  regulators." 

"  Where  is  your  process  ?" 

Minton  touched  his  double-barrelled  shot-gun,  with  a  savage 
Bmile. 


THE    BATTLE    AT   THE    BLOCK    HOUSE — JUDGE    MOORE.  179 

"  But,  suppose,  that  I  do  not  see  proper  to  obey  such  an 
unusual  summons,  what  then  ?"  inquired  the  judge. 

"  Why,  we'll  jist  hang  you  up  thar  to  the  jiste  of  your  own 
house  !"  answered  Minton  with  a  burst  of  diabolical  laughter. 

The  menace,  with  that  ferocious  accompaniment  of  fiendish 
mirth,  effectually  aroused  the  young  girl,  and  casting  herself  at 
the  feet  of  the  ruffians,  she  entreated,  "  Oh !  for  the  love  of 
Heaven,  do  not  murder  my  dear  father  !  You  have  killed  my 
poor  brother.  Will  not  one  victim  suffice  ?  For  God's  sake, 
leave  us  to  bury  our  dear  dead  !"  The  elder  son  removed  his 
left  elbow  from  its  position  on  the  mantel,  but  his  right  hand 
played  more  busily  with  the  hilt  of  his  knife,  and  he  eyed 
the  lynchers  with  sidelong  glances. 

"  Git  out,  gal  !"  exclaimed  Bill,  in  impatient  accents  ;  "  if  yer 
daddy  don't  go  with  us,  we'll  hang  him,  that's  all  I  Them  ar' 
our  orders,  and  by  thunder,  it  shall  be  done  I" 

"Very  well,"  said  the  judge,  "in  order  to  spare  the  feelings 
of  my  family,  and  to  prevent  you  from  disgracing  yourselves  more 
than  devils,  not  from  any  personal  fear,  I  will  attend  you  ! 
Let  us  be  off  at  once." 

"  Oh,  do  not  go,  dearest  father.  They  will  butcher  you  as 
they  did  my  poor  brother  Albert  !"  and  the  daughter  clung 
to  his  knees  with  the  strength  of  desperation. 

"  Git  out,  gal  1"  shouted  Bill  Minton  again,  still  more  furi 
ously,  and  he  gave  her  a  push  with  his  foot,  that  sent  her  rolling 
over  on  the  floor. 

"  Ha  !"  ejaculated  the  elder  son,  and  making  a  spring,  like  a 
tiger,  he  plunged  the  dagger  up  to  the  hilt  in  the  lynchers  side, 


180       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

and  bounding  through  the  door,  effected  his  escape,  amidst  a  hail 
of  hissing  buckshot. 

Minton  staggered  an  instant,  took  two  steps  forward,  and 
fell  dead  across  the  corpse,  staining  the  snowy  winding-sheet, 
and  even  the  wan  visage  of  the  dead,  with  the  crimson 
flow  from  his  heart.  What  a  terrible  retribution !  And 
it  is  always  thus  in  purple  lands,  where  law  protects  not 
life.  Homicide  never  escapes  long  unpunished.  Sooner  or 
later,  some  friend  of  the  slain  avenges  his  ashes,  and  then  another 
relative  of  the  last  one  fallen,  takes  up  the  gory  knife  to  perish 
in  his  turn,  and  so  the '  horrid  legacy  of  mutual  murder  i3 
bequeathed  from  father  to  son,  upon  two  families,  for  unborn, 
and  sometimes  distant,  generations  ! 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SOL  TUTTLE   AND   BROTHER  DAVE — THE   BROTHERS   BARTON   AND  THE 

SISTERS   EWING. 

• 

ON  the  same  night  previously  mentioned,  when  so  many  similar 
scenes  of  violence  were  occurring  in  different  sections  of  the 
country,  at  an  early  hour,  the  fire-side  of  Sol  Tuttle  presented 
an  appearance  unusually  cheerful  and  interesting.  The  cause  of 
this  additional  happiness,  in  a  family  always  satisfied  with  their 
humble  fortune,  might  be  perceived  at  a  glance,  in  the  presence 
of  a  guest,  bearing  many  traits  of  resemblance  to  the  head  of  tho 
house,  but  modelled,  as  it  were,  after  a  still  coarser  and  more 
Titanic  pattern.  He  was  indeed  a  vast  frame  of  bones,  without 
an  ounce  of  supernumerary  flesh,  with  a  small  bullet-shaped 
head,  supported  by  a  very  short  neck,  showing  enormous  volumes 
of  muscular  fibres,  indicating  at  once  great  strength  and  equal 
animal  passions.  His  locks  had  the  same  dark  hue  as  the  hun 
ter's,  but  seemed  rolled  in  endless  tangles,  and  rough  as  the  mane 
of  a  mustang.  His  low,  broad  forehead  was  knotted  and  gnarled 
about  the  brows,  like  the  roots  of  a  forest  oak.  His  diminutive 
eyes  of  a  dark-drown  tint,  glittering  and  restless,  looked  keen  as 

181 


182  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE  TANAHA. 

daggers,  but  wanted  that  twinkle  of  merry  good  humor,  which  con 
stituted  the  principal  charm  of  the  other's  countenance.  These 
features,  with  a  nose  extremely  long  and  slightly  aquiline,  and 
a  mighty  massive  chin,  combined  to  give  him  the  aspect  of  a 
great  grim  savage,  at  once,  powerful,  passionate,  revengeful, 
immutable  in  his  attachments,  as  well  as  his  antipathies. 

This  was  an  elder  brother  of  Sol,  the  celebrated  Dave  Tuttle, 
known  by  the  super-added  epithet  of  "dare  devil,"  all  over  Mis 
souri  and  Arkansas,  and  to  every  hunter  and  trapper  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  He  had  just  arrived  that  evening  from  the 
Rio  Grande,  where  he  had  been,  for  more  than  eighteen  months, 
entrusted  with  some  "secret  mission  under  the  order  of  General 
Houston.  He  did  not  appear  to  share  the  hilarious  emotions, 
which  his  advent  had  produced  among  his  friends,  but  sat  in  the 
chimney-corner,  with  the  grave,  gloomy  countenance  of  an 
Indian,  busily  engaged  in  whittling  a  pine  stick,  with  the  blade 
of  an  immense  bowie-knife,  nearly  two  feet  in  length. 

"  How  do  you  like  the  yaller-faced  Mexicans  ?"  inquired  Sol, 
essaying,  by  some  means,  to  stir  up  conversation. 

"  Wuss  nor  pisen,"  answered  Dave,  with  a  frown. 

"  'Aint  the  gals  purty  ?" 

"  Uglier  nor  pole-cats." 

"  It  seems,  then,  you  don't  fancy  'em,  so  much  as  the  Black- 
feet,"  suggested  Sol,  with  a  sly  wink  at  Susy 

"No,  becaze  the  mountain  Indians  ar'  brave  as  thur  own 
grizzly  bars,  and  thur  squaws  have  some  vartue." 

"I  'spose  you  tried  ;em  well  on  both  pints,"  said  Sol, 
laughing. 


SOL  TUTTLE    AND    BROTHER   DAVE.  183 

"  I  had  my  own  wife,  Big  Thunder's  darter,"  answered  Dave, 
seriously  ;  "  and  I  stuck  to  her  like  the  bark  to  a  pine-tree." 

The  discourse  flagged  for  a  few  minutes,  when  Dave  suddenly 
aroused  himself,  and  asked  with  a  look  of  terrible  animation  ; 
"  Sol,  is  old  Morrow  alive  yit  1" 

"Yes,"  replied  the  other,  dropping  his  glance  to  the  floor,  and 
fidgeting  uneasily  upon  his  stool. 

"  Sol,  ar'  you  a  coward  ?"  interrogated  the  elder  brother,  in 
bitter,  sneering  accents. 

"  No,"  answered  the  hunter,  with  a  blush  of  shame  and  indig 
nation  ;  "  I'm  as  brave  as  you  any  day,  and  you  know  it  ;  but, 
somehow,  I  don't  want  the  smell  of  a  human  critter's  blood  on 
my  hands.  I'm  afeerd  of  the  judgment  hereafter,  and  I  think, 
as  how,  I  would  be  haunted  by  the  dead  man's  sperit." 

"  Sol,  you're  a  fool,"  retorted  Dave,  contemptuously  ;  "  I've  shot 
lots  of  Indians,  and  white  villains  too,  and  I  never  seed  any 
ghost  yit.  I  'spect  when  folks  ar'  once  ferried  over  the  black 
water,  they  don't  cross  back  agin  in  a  hurry,  'specially  if  thur 
landin'  is  in  the  hot  country." 

"  Yes,  but  I  believe  we  all  had  the  same  Maker,"  urged  the 
other  ;  "  and  the  Bible  says,  as  how,  He  ain't  pleased,  when  we 
poor  feller-critters  cut  each  other's  throats." 

"  One  mout  as  well  be  hung  fur  stealin'  a  sheep  as  a  lamb," 
retorted  Dave,  and  immediately  added  with  an  awful  oath  ;  "I'd 
have  the  old  sinner's  life,  if  I  had  to  burn  in  brimstone  fur  ever  I 
Didn't  he  kill  our  poor  brother  Mose,  like  a  hog,  giviu'  him  no 
sort  of  show,  any  more  nor  a  snake  ?  Didn't  he  have  a  hundred 
fellers  to  help  him  ?  Did  the  infarnal  Injin  say,  fair  fight,  so 


184  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

much  as  once  ?  I'll  send  him  a  challenge  to-morrow,  if  I 
knowed,  that  I  should  be  in  hell  before  night  1" 

"You  hain't  heern,  as  how,  he's  at  the  head  of  a  newlynchin' 
company,  bigger  nor  the  last  one  in  Missouri,"  said  the  hunter, 
in  agitated  tones. 

"  I  don't  care  a  cuss  fur  that,"  exclaimed  Dave  furiously  ; 
"  I'll  hev'  his  scalp,  at  long  taw,  if  I  can't  find  any  other  way. 
I'm  sartan,  if  me  or  you  had  been  killed  instead  of  Mose,  the 
brave  feller  never  would  have  slept,  until  he  got  blood  fur 
blood  1" 

"  And  I'm  sure  if  anybody  wur'  to  shoot  daddy  or  you,  uncle 
Dave,  I'd  pop  'em  over,  like  squirrels,"  interposed  the  boy. 

"  That's  the  right  talk  for  the  old  Pocahontas  breed,"  cried 
Dave,  slapping  Jack  Randolph  on  the  shoulder,  with  an  air  of 
proud  delight. 

Suddenly,  the  great  black  dog,  which  had  been  stretched  at 
his  hairy  length  before  the  fire,  bounded  up,  and  barking  wrath- 
fully,  rushed  into  the  yard.  "  Hush  up,  Nig,"  exclaimed  Sol, 
stepping  to  the  door,  when  he  perceived  half-a-dozen  strange 
horsemen  approaching.  They  halted  at  the  distance  of  a  few 
paces,  and  one  of  them  spoke  in  a  pleasant  voice  ;  "  We  wish  to 
trespass  on  your  hospitality,  to-night,  if  you  would  be  so  obliging 
as  to  accommodate  us." 

"  Sartanly,  gentlemen,  I'm  not  a  savage  to  turn  away  any 
traveller  frum  my  shed,  if  he  can  put  up  with  the  fare  of  a  hun 
ter.  Git  off,  and  let's  hopple  out  yer  hosses." 

"No,  we'll  tie  them  up,  thank  you,"  remarked  the  first 
speaker,  and  this  being  done,  the  whole  party  entered  the  house 


SOL   TUTTLE   AND    BROTHER   DAVE.  185 

and  seated  themselves  on  different  stools.  They  were  truly  a  wild, 
rough-loooking  set,  dressed  in  soiled  time-worn  buckskin,  with 
unshaven  visages,  and  fierce,  ferocious  eyes,  and  all,  without 
exception,  presented  forms  of  great  power,  as  if  they  had  been 
selected  for  some  dangerous  service,  requiring  the  utmost 
strength  and  daring.  The  man,  who  appeared  to  be  the  leader, 
showed  enormous  masses  of  muscles,  swelling  out  in  volumes  near 
the  joints,  while  the  expression  of  his  large  coarse  features,  and 
cruel  grey  eyes,  betokened  a  disposition  to  rely  more  on  the 
principle  of  his  own  undoubted  might,  than  upon  questionable 
rules  of  abstract  right 

"  If  I  mout  be  so  bold,  stranger,"  said  Sol,  in  friendly  tones  ; 
"  I'd  like  to  ax,  whur'  ar'  you  traveling  to  ?" 

"  The  Trinity,  on  a  buffalo  hunt." 

"  What  mout  be  your  name  ?" 

"  Mose  Miller,"  answered  the  giant. 

"  Whur  ar'  you  frum  jist  now  ?" 

"  Louisiana." 

"  I  have  half  a  mind  to  saddle  up  in  the  morning  and  go  with 
you,"  remarked  Sol,  musing. 

"We  shall  be  most  proud  of  yer  company,"  affirmed  Mose 
Miller,  with  a  singular  smile,  while  the  other  ruffians  uttered  a 
low  titter. 

"  I'll  do  it,"  declared  the  hunter  ;  "  thar's  no  sort  of  fun  like 
a  chase  arter  buffalo." 

"  The  more  the  merrier,"  observed  Miller  ;  "  we  have  fifty  in 
our  party  already." 

"  Whur  ar?  the  balance  of  yer  boys  T> 


i86  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

"  They'll  be  along  presently  ;  there,  I  hear  them  coming  now," 
said  Mose,  with  a  sinister  look,  as  the  sound  of  hoofs,  like  the 
gallop  of  a  large  troop  came  thundering  over  the  prairie,  and  in 
a  moment,  the  horsemen  paused  at  the  door. 

Sol  advanced  a  step,  when  Mose  Miller  and  two  others  of  the 
gang  suddenly  threw  themselves  upon  him,  while  the  rest 
assaulted  the  elder  brother  in  the  same  unexpected  manner,  A 
horrible  combat  ensued.  It  lasted,  however,  but  a  few  seconds  ; 
for  twenty  more  of  the  regulators  rushed  through  the  door,  and 
after  a  brief  but  bloody  struggle,  overpowered  their  victims,  and 
bound  them  securely  with  strong  cords. 

Just  as  the  melee  ended,  Mose  Miller  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  of 
astonishment  and  horror,  "  My  God  !  look  there,  boys,  the  dog 
is  killing  Jake  Johnson  !"  All  eyes  turned  towards  the  corner, 
and  never  did  a  more  hideous  vision  greet  the  human  gaze. 
While  the  general,  boisterous  combat  had  been  proceeding,  a 
silent,  but  still  more  deadly  strife  had  been  going  on  unobserved. 
For  at  the  instant,  when  the  struggle  commenced,  Nigger  had 
sprung  and  seized  the  throat  of  the  assailant  nearest  to  him,  drag 
ged  the  young  man  to  the  floor,  as  easily  as  if  he  had  been  a  cat,  and 
shook  and  throttled  him  with  those  awful,  sharp  teeth,  until  his 
blood-shot  eyes  protruded  from  their  sockets,  then  grew  vacant 
and  glassy,  and  finally  became  fixed  in  that  fearful  stony  stare, 
which  never  might  beam  again  with  one  ray  from  the  sweet 
light  of  life  !  The  favorite  son  of  parson  Johnson  was  no  more  ! 

"  Shoot  the  dog  I"  shouted  the  leader  of  the  lynchers,  and  a 
score  of  guns  emptied  their  contents  into  the  mass  of  hair  and 
bloody  foam.  The  limbs  of  the  animal  quivered  in  the  last  con- 


. 

SOL   TUTTLE    AND    BROTHER   DAVE.  18t 

vulsion,  which  agonizes  alike  the  man  and  brute.  He  fell  upon 
the  corpse  of  the  human  dead,  that  he  had  just  slain  ;  but  those 
massive  iron  jaws  still  retained  their  hold  on  the  suffocated 
throat  of  his  antagonist,  and  had  to  be  broken  open  with  a 
chisel  ! 

All  at  once,  as  this  revolting  tragedy  closed,  the  bloody  cur 
tain  of  death  rose  upon  another  equally  terrible.  Among  the 
captors  of  the  two  brothers,  was  Morton  Morrow,  the  major's 
second  son.  Actuated  by  a  spirit  of  barbarous  revenge,  this 
savage  dealt  Sol  Tuttle  a  stunning  blow  in  the  face,  after  his 
hands  had  been  tied,  exclaiming  as  he  did  so  ;  "Thar  now,  that's 
the  fust  payment  fur  yer  puttin'  father's  shoulder  out  of  jinte, 
and  the  last  will  be  to-morrow,  when  we  unjinte  yer  neck  !" 

Scarcely  had  the  word  left  his  lips,  when  the  loud  report  of  a 
pistol  sounded  in  the  room,  and  the  speaker  dropped  upon  the 
floor  like  a  lump  of  lead.  The  bullet  had  pierced  the  centre  of 
his  forehead  ! 

The  lynchers  uttered  a  simultaneous  cry  of  infernal  fury,  not 
unmixed  with  emotions  of  fear,  and  the  deafening  shout,  "  Who 
did  it  ?  who  did  it  ?"  rent  the  air. 

"  This  little  boy,"  answered  a  voice  near  the  fire-place,  and 
the  amazed  spectators  beheld  the  slight  form  of  Jack  Randolph, 
with  a  deringer  in  his  hand,  still  smoking  at  the  muzzle,  while 
his  djark  eyes  blazed  with  lurid  light,  and  his  features  glowed 
with  burning  passion,  like  those  of  some  mighty  hero,  facing  the 
fire  of  a  bastion  about  to  be  stormed,  in  the  crisis  of  victorious 
battle. 

"  Kill   the  young  rattle-snake  !      Down   with   the    devil's 


188  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF  THE   TAN  AHA. 

imp  I"  cried  a  majority  of  the  throng,  and  several  guns  were 
presented  to  execute  the  menace,  when  the  boy's  mother,  who 
had  previously  remained  motionless  near  the  chimney,  as  if 
utterly  paralyzed  with  fright,  suddenly  threw  herself  between 
her  son  and  his  intended  assassins,  covering  him  with  her  own 
body,  and  begging  piteously  for  his  life  ;  "  Oh  !  men,  have 
mercy  !  do  not  murder  my  child,  my  first  born,  my  darling  ! 
Mercy  !  mercy  1  I  pray,  for  the  love  of  yer  mothers  1" 

"  Boys,  don't  shoot  him,"  commanded  the  leader  ;  "  it's  agin 
our  orders  ;  becaze  the  major  says,  as  how,  it  will  disgrace  our 
company,  to  kill  anybody  'cept  by  hangin'  1  So  fasten  his  fists 
together,  and  we'll  carry  him  along  with  us." 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  glad  of  it  I"  cried  Jack  ;  "  I'll  now  be  with  my 
dear  daddy  I" 

The  party  immediately  prepared  for  their  march  to  the  head 
quarters  of  the  committee,  leaving  a  small  force  to  procure 
a  wagon  and  follow  with  their  dead.  At  the  moment  of  their 
departure,  Susy  Tuttle  approached  the  commander  of  the  troop, 
and  faltered  ;  "  For  God's  sake,  let  my  poor  husband  and  boy 
bid  us  all  farewell  !  it  may  be  a  great  while  before  we  see  each 
other  agin  1" 

"  Well,  I  don't  care,"  answered  Miller,  in  a  mild  voice, 
touched  in  spite  of  his  habitual  brutality,  by  the  artless,  unut 
terable  grief  of  that  weeping  woman.  She  hastily  mustered  the 
blue-eyed  little  girls,  and  the  father  and  brother  kissed  them  all 
tenderly  with  many  a  lingering  "  good-by,"  sad  and  solemn,  it  is 
true,  yet  still  firm  and  dignified,  for  they  both  feared  to  betray 
any  tokens  of  weakness  in  the  presence  of  their  unrelenting  foes. 


SOL   TUTTLE    AND    BROTHER   DAVE.  189 

But  when  the  mother  ran  to  the  cradle,  and  producing  the  idol 
of  the  household,  the  flower  and  the  pride  of  the  family,  their 
beautiful  bright-eyed  babe,  and  held  up  its  angel  face  and  smil 
ing  velvet  lips  for  a  last  caress  of  love,  Sol,  unable  to  play  the 
stoic  any  longer,  fairly  broke  down.  His  stern  mouth  quivered 
nervously,  his  breath  came  in  heart-breaking  sobs,  and  nature 
gaining,  more  and  more,  the  mastery  over  the  man,  all  the  fond 
father's  soul  rushed  into  his  eyes,  and  found  vent  in  a  great  flood 
of  tears. 

"  Come,  let's  be  off,"  ordered  the  leader  of  the  lynchers,  and 
the  prisoners  were  hurried  out  of  the  door,  and  mounted  on  dif 
ferent  horses,  led  by  members  of  the  gang,  while  two  others  rode 
by  each  captive  holding  the  loose  ends  of  the  rope,  by  which 
their  hands  had  been  fastened,  and  the  whole  troop  surrounded 
them,  to  preclude  every  hope  of  escape. 

It  was  a  beautiful,  cloudless  night,  and  the  old  divine  star 
light  smiled  over  the  waving  green  of  the  prairie,  with  a  lustre 
lovely  as  the  dawn  of  day.  The  regulators,  notwithstanding 
the  late  horrible  incidents,  jested,  laughed,  and  sang  wild  songs, 
or  tortured  the  minds  of  their  captives,  by  drawing  hideous 
word-pictures  of  the  death  they  must  endure  on  the  morrow. 
The  latter  made  no  reply,  but  maintained  unbroken  silence. 

At  length,  they  reached  the  forest,  just  as  the  first  faint 
streaks  of  pale  morning  light  began  to  dapple  the  great,  grey 
orient.  There  the  road  being  comparatively  narrow,  forced  the 
party  to  lengthen  their  column,  and  Dave  Tuttle  determined  to 
attempt  an  escape.  Suddenly  bending  far  forwards  in  the 
saddle,  and  grasping  the  horn  of  the  pommel  firmly  with  both  his 


190  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OF   THE   TANAHA. 

hands,  and  at  the  same  instant,  kicking  his  horse  violently  in 
the  flanks,  he  uttered  a  terrible  cry.  The  frightened  animal 
leaping  onwards  through  the  air,  jerked  the  ends  of  the  cord  out 
of  the  fingers  of  Tuttle's  guard,  and  the  prisoner  throwing  him 
self  upon  the  earth,  fled  away  into  the  dark  thicket :  a  volley  of 
buckshot  and  bullets  whistled  around  him,  and  many  started  in 
pursuit,  but  after  a  .laborious  and  protracted  search,  they  were 
compelled  to  give  it  up  without  success  ;  and  the  gang,  once 
more,  marched  towards  Major  Morrow's  residence,  where  they 
arrived  early  the  next  day,  with  Sol  and  his  little  son. 

Let  us  now  describe  another  scene,  presented  on  that  eventful 
night.  About  the  hour  of  one  in  the  morning,  four  persons 
were  seated  in  the  principal  room  of  a  double  log  cabin,  which 
stood  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Tanaha,  some  ten  miles  from  Shel- 
byville.  The  party,  just  mentioned,  consisted  of  two  handsome 
youths,  fashionably  dressed,  and  a  couple  of  young  girls,  in  their 
Sunday  robes,  and  wearing  their  best  looks  and  sweetest  smiles. 
A  single  glance  sufficed  to  show  the  relation  of  these  individuals. 
They  were  evidently  lovers,  sitting  up,  for  the  purpose  of  tender 
courtship,  according  to  the  delightful  custom  prevalent  in  the 
backwoods.  Each  fond  pair  had  taken  a  position  in  different 
corners,  as  far  apart  as  possible  and  employed  their  time,  con 
versing  in  those  delicious  murmuring  whispers,  which  form  the 
chosen  language  for  the  revelation  of  the  divine  mysteries  of 
love. 

I  have  already  said,  that  the  youths  might  be  pronounced 
handsome,  and  I  will  add  that  they  bore  a  striking  family 
resemblance  to  each  other.  Both  had  slender  forms,  fair  feat- 


THE    BROTHERS    BARTON    AND   THE    SISTERS    EWING.  191 

ures,  with  yellow  hair,  and  light  blue  eyes.  They  were,  in  fact, 
the  brothers,  John  and  William  Barton,  the  nephews  of  Judge 
Moore,  and  sons  of  his  favorite  sister.  The  heirs  of  considerable 
wealth,  their  prospects  in  life  seemed  brilliant  enough,  but  their 
appearance  did  not  indicate  the  right  sort  of  metal  for  the  fron 
tier  ;  for  with  much  intelligence  and  more  vanity,  their  visages 
betokened  a  want  of  firmness,  and  the  courage  to  face  unusual 
perils. 

The  young  girls,  also  sisters,  Eliza  and  Alice  Ewing,  belonged 
obviously  to  a  lower  rank  in  life  than  their  lovers,  if  one  might 
judge  from  their  home-spun  clothing,  and  that  certain  nameless 
deficiency  in  the  countenance,  which,  even  on  faces  the  most  fault 
less,  betrays  the  lack  of  education.  They  both,  however,  possessed 
striking  charms,  in  their  full,  round  figures,  their  fair  rosy 
cheeks,  in  their  rich  brown  hair,  and  especially  in  the  laughing 
lustre  of  their  dark  blue  eyes,  that  looked  brimming  over  with 
love  and  happiness,  as  if  no  tears  had  ever  yet  stained  their 
sunny  azure.  But  of  the  two  couples,  William  and  Alice  seemed 
more  beautiful  than  John  and  Eliza,  as  they  were  certainly  the 
more  youthful!  And  the  graces  of  all  appeared  heightened  by 
the  fond  affection,  which  beamed  on  their  features,  and  by  the 
crimson  illumination  of  the  pine-fire,  resembling  in  itself  a  love- 
blush  as  it  increased  or  decayed,  and  at  times,  nearly  died  out 
in  the  darkness.  On  such  occasions,  the  young  men  seized  the 
golden  opportunity  to  snatch  a  furtive  kiss,  or  to  measure  the 
waists  of  the  girls,  with  their  folded  arms. 

The  situation,  nevertheless,  was  by  no  means,  dangerous  ;  for 
at  such  moments,  the  widow  in  the  adjoining  apartment,  how- 


192       BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

ever  loud  she  might  be  snoring,  never  failed  to  wake  up  suddenly, 
with  the  prudent  order  j  "  There,  Eliza,  throw  another  pine-knot 
on  the  fire  1" 

Such  a  cruel  command  had  just  been  given,  as  the  clock  struck 
one.  "  Your  mother  sleeps  with  one  eye  open,"  whispered 
William,  and  the  remark  excited  Alice  to  a  merry  titter,  and  all 
four  united  in  the  laugh  ;  when,  the  minute  afterwards,  as 
the  fire  blazed  up,  with  its  broad  red  light,  the  nasal  organs  of 
the  good  matron  renewed  their  mellow  music,  as  if  she  were 
dreaming  at  the  rate  of  twenty  knots  to  the  hour. 

The  unfilial  merriment  soon  subsided,  and  John  Barton 
addressed  the  couple  in  the  opposite  corner  ;  "  Eliza  and  myself 
have  concluded  to  be  married  to-morrow  evening,  what  do  you 
say,  William  and  Alice,  cannot  you  two  be  ready  at  the  same 
time  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  answered  the  younger  brother,  with  eager  joy  ; 
"  we  had  just  formed  the  same  praiseworthy  resolution.'7 

The  widow  Ewing  ceased  to  snore,  and  then  started  again,  at 
a  gentle  pace,  as  it  may  be  supposed,  in  order  not  to  interrupt 
the  conversation,  and  still  to  catch  the  tenor  of  its  substance,  but 
at  the  instant,  an  event  happened  which  prevented  all  further 
discourse,  and  changed  the  whispers  of  elysian  love  into  exclama 
tions  of  grief  and  terror.  A  loud  knocking,  like  the  blows  of 
some  iron  instrument,  was  heard  at  the  door,  and  all  the  wooers 
turned  pale  and  trembled,  as  if  summoned  to  sudden  death. 

As  no  one  moved,  a  rude  voice  thundered  outside,  "  Open  the 
shutter,  or  we'll  break  it  down  !" 

Still  the  young  men  were  too  agitated  to  obey  the  order,  and 


THE    BROTHERS    BARTON    AND    THE    SISTERS    EWING.  193 

immediately  the  door  flew  from  its  hinges  with  a  loud  crash,  and 
half  a  score  of  armed  ruffians,  headed  by  a  desperate  bully,  one 
Levi  Powers,  rushed  into  the  room,  while  the  maidens  clung  to 
the  bosoms  of  their  lovers,  uttering  the  wildest  shrieks,  and 
the  youths  themselves  actually  seemed  too  much  panic-stricken 
even  to  articulate  any  species  of  sound. 

"  Shet  up  yer  cussed  squallin',  yer  wuss  nor  wildcats  a  court- 
in',"  exclaimed  the  brutal  commander  ;  "  we're  come  arter  yer 
sweethearts,  and  we  must  take  'em." 

"  What  do  you  want  with  them  ?"  inquired  Eliza,  who  first 
recovered  the  use  of  her  tongue. 

"  The  lynchin'  committee  have  sent  us  fur  'em,  and  that's  all  we 
know  about  it,"  replied  Powers,  with  a  black  frown. 

At  the  mention  of  the  awful  word,  "lynching  committee,"  the 
young  men  tottered  as  if  in  the  act  of  falling  ;  but  the  ruffians 
instantly  seized  them,  tied  their  hands,  and  hurried  away  into 
the  dark  night,  without  heeding  the  prayers  and  wailing  entreat 
ies  of  their  affianced  brides.  For  no  lion  of  the  Lybian  desert, 
no  snake  of  the  burning  south,  no  monster  on  earth,  or  in  hell, 
was  ever  half  so  pitiless,  in  the  fierce  frenzy  of  passion,  as  tho 
maddened  and  murder-breathing  mob  1 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

CARLYLE     AND     C  TT  R  R  A  N  . 

ON  the  next  morning  after  the  startling  events,  narrated  in 
the  previous  chapter,  the  residence  of  the  chief  robber  presented 
the  appearance  of  a  strong  military  position,  in  the  anxious 
expectation  of  an  immediate  assault.  Sentinels  were  stationed 
around  the  place  in  every  direction,  while  powerful  guards  had 
been  thrown  out  to  defend  the  approaches,  and  three  hundred 
men,  thoroughly  armed,  stood  prepared  for  the  battle,  about  the 
block-house,  and  at  the  port-holes.  Indeed,  the  situation  itself, 
in  the  sharp  angle,  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Tanaha  and 
Sabine,  with  their  crumbling  precipitous  banks,  and  deep,  muddy 
currents,  was  exposed  to  attack  only  on  a  single  side,  and  that 
being  a  smooth,  level  field,  any  storming  party  would  be  subject, 
without  the  least  shelter,  to  a  murderous  hail  of  bullets  and 
buckshot,  the  moment  when  they  should  come  within  range  of 
the  guns. 

Captain  Carlyle  sat  alone  in  his  library,  buried  in  gloomy 
reflections,  and  at  times,  glancing  uneasily  towards  the  door,  as 
if  anticipating  some  unusual  arrival.  Suddenly,  the  slender  form 

194 


CARLYLE  AND  CURRAN.  195 

of  Lieutenant  Curran  rushed  in,  without  ceremony ;  his  counte 
nance  bearing  evident  tokens  of  agitation,  with  his  long  golden 
hair  floating  dishevelled  on  his  shoulders,  and  his  clothing  soiled, 
torn,  and  blood-stained,  as  if  he  had  been  recently  engaged  in 
mortal  conflict. 

"  Eh  !  Curran,  what  has  happened  ?"  exclaimed  Carlyle, 
springing  to  his  feet,  in  alarm  and  astonishment. 

"  Nothing  of  much  consequence,"  answered  the  other,  with 
the  old  mischievous  twinkle,  kindling  afresh  in  his  bright  blue 
eyes  ;  "  only  I  have  made  a  narrow  escape,  and  the  lynchers 
have  caught  our  dear  brother  Jonathan. 

The  captain  turned  pale  as  a  dead  man,  with  vexation  and 
rage,  and  swearing  a  horrible  oath,  added,  "  Now  they  will  get 
all  our  secrets,  for  the  cowardly  Yankee,  in  order  to  save  his 
own  worthless  life,  will  be  sure  to  betray  us,  and  varnish  his  dis 
closures,  besides,  with  a  hundred  lies." 

44  Multum  mentitur,  qui  multum  vidit,"  said  Curran  with  a 
smile. 

"  It  is  terrible  !"  continued  the  chief  of  the  bandits,  striding 
up  and  down  the  apartment,  with  a  lowering  brow  ;  "  it  is  too 
dreadful  to  be  thus  foiled  in  our  plans,  when  on  the  golden  verge 
of  princely  fortunes  1  to  be  hurled  back  from  the  radiant  heights 
of  hope  and  boundless  wealth  into  the  abyss  of  poverty — aye,  to 
become  beggars  as  well  as  outlaws ;  beggars,  that  is  the  term  I" 

"  Tout  est  pris,"  suggested  the  lieutenant ;  "  but  then  we'll 
have  nothing  more  to  fear  ;  for  as  the  great  poet  sings,  Vacuus 
cant  at  cor  am  latrone  viator" 

"  Fool  1"  shouted  Carlyle,  furiously  ;  "  how  can  you  jest,  at 


196  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

such  a  moment  ?  I  tell  you,  that  our  very  necks  will  be  in 
jeopardy  ;  for  Hutson's  inevitable  revelations  will  arouse  the 
whole  country  against  us." 

11 1  think,"  said  Curran  in  a  more  serious  tone,  "  that  the  case 
is  not  half  so  desperate  as  your  imagination  would  make  it.  I 
learned  this  morning,  that  General  Houston  is  at  Nacogdoches 
with  a  large  force  of  rangers,  and  from  the  brave  hero's  well- 
known  hatred  of  mob-law,  he  will  doubtless  march,  at  the 
instant  when  he  hears  of  the  insurrection,  and  suppress  the 
organization  of  the  lynchers  forever." 

The  features  of  the  captain  brightened  immediately,  as  he 
exclaimed  in  joyfully  triumphant  accents  ;  "  We  are  saved  !  I 
thought  it  strange,  that  the  devil  should  desert  me  in  this  very 
crisis  of  my  destiny  !  in  one  more  month,  if  we  play  our  cards 
cunningly,  we  will  be  rich  as  the  Rothschilds  !"  and  he  seated 
himself,  at  his  ease,  on  the  sofa. 

After  deliberating  silently,  for  a  few  minutes,  the  arch-robber 
looked  up,  and  fixing  his  dark  eyes,  with  a  cruelly  determined 
expression  on  the  other's  face,  be  remarked  ;  "  Curran,  one  thing 
is  necessary  to  insure  both  our  success  and  safety.  That  man 
must  die  !" 

"What  man  must  die?"  inquired  the  lieutenant,  in  careless  tones. 

"  The  man  from  whom  we  have  most  to  fear  ;  the  craven  con 
fidant  of  all  our  schemes ;  the  man  who  holds  our  very  lives  in 
his  slippery  hand — Jonathan  Hutson  !" 

"  I  do  not  perceive  any  present,  or  even  future  prospect  of  his 
dying,  unless  the  lynchers  should  accommodate  you  by  killing 
him." 


CARLYLE  AND  CURRAN.  197 

"  Could  not  you  manage  to  conceal  yourself  among  the  bushes, 
near  their  head-quarters,  and  send  a  rifle  ball  through  his 
brain  ?"  asked  Carlyle  calmly. 

"  I  have  never  yet  committed  a  cool  premeditated  murder,  and 
by  Heaven,  I  never  will,"  responded  Currant,  with  a  grave  reso 
lute  countenance. 

"  You  would  rather,  then,  lose  the  fruits  of  all  our  toil  and 
trouble  I"  exclaimed  the  more  unscrupulous  bandit,  with  a  bitter 
sneer.  "  You  have,  all  at  once,  grown  distressfully  conscientious, 
when  a  trivial,  but  bold  crime  would  place  us  beyond  the  reach 
of  peril.  You  will  turn  religious  next,  and  be  whining  with  the 
mourners  in  some  Methodist  altar  1  but  an  ocean  of  hypocritical 
tears  could  scarcely  wash  away  the  blood  already  on  your  red 
right  hand  !" 

The  handsome  features  of  the  lieutenant  became  pale  as  he 
answered  in  a  serious  voice  ;  "  You  ought  to  remember,  cousin, 
that  your  crafty  persuasions  tempted  me  to  adopt  this  wicked 
course  of  life.  I  was  not  originally  depraved  or  dishonest ;  but 
a  mere  romantic  dreamer,  fond  of  the  marvellous  in  idea  and 
action,  and  impatient  of  the  fettering  thraldom  of  custom  and 
habit.  From  my  earliest  childhood,  your  ambitious  nature  and 
will  of  iron  exercised  a  despotic  sway  over  all  my  own  passions 
and  plans.  Your  influence  controlled  me,  like  a  species  of  fas 
cination  ;  a  wizard's  spell,  which  I  had  no  power  to  resist  if  I 
would.  Your  finger  was  the  magnet,  and  my  heart  the  tremu 
lous  needle,  that  followed  its  direction,  wherever  you  chose  to 
point  your  hand. 

"  Again,  and  again,  did  my  sainted  mother  warn  me  of  this 


198  RANGERS    AND    REGULAT011S    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

fatal  infatuation,  and  predict  its  consequences.  All  her  prayers, 
arguments,  and  tears,  proved  unavailing  to  break  the  irresistible 
chain,  which  bound  me  as  a  weak  and  wavering  slave  to  your 
all-conquering  volitions.  I  entered  into  all  your  aims,  hopes, 
studies,  pastimes,  and  changed  even  my  mother's  creed  for  your 
scepticism  and  scoffing.  In  the  depth  of  my  degradation  and 
folly,  I  did  not  desire  any  heaven,  unless  I  could  share  it  with 
you." 

"  At  first,  fortune  smiled  propitiously  on  all  our  prospects,  and 
riches  and  honorable  fame  seemed  within  our  mutual  grasp  ; 
when  you  madly  dashed  them  all  away  for  the  gratification  of 
an  animal  passion,  and  ingloriously  fled  from  your  country,  as  a 
refugee  and  outlaw.  Even  then,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  accompany 
you  ;  and  to  consummate  the  climax  of  sins  and  absurdities,  your 
infernal  logic  and  rhetoric  converted  me  into  a  common  robber. 
Only  one  thing  your  satanic  cunning  and  my  own  stupidity 
could  not  render  me — a  cold-blooded  merciless  murderer  !" 

"  And  so,  it  appears  that  your  enemies  are  all  safe  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  sweet  sunlight  !  the  earth  has  no  white  bones, 
no  crimson-bosomed  bodies,  planted  beneath  its  green  sward  by 
your  hand  ?"  said  Carlyle,  smiling  disdainfully. 

The  other  retorted  with  a  slight  shudder  ;  "  It  is  true,  cousin, 
that  I  have  slain  my  victims,  alas !  too  many ;  but  the  deed  has 
always  been  done,  in  the  burning  heat  of  battle,  in  the  fierce  free 
dom  of  fair  fight,  and  where  the  odds  were  usually  against  me  ; 
when  my  veins  throbbed  with  the  red  fluid  of  lightning,  and  the  foe 
gave  me  no  time  for  deliberation,  and  no  shadow  of  a  choice  ; 
when  necessity  compelled  me  to  kill  ;  but  never,  from  prudential 


CARLYLE  AND  CURRAN.  199 

calculations,  never  when  the  dire  alternative  did  not  force  itself 
upon  me." 

"This  is  news  to  me,"  remarked  Carlyle,  in  tones  of  more 
withering  sarcasm  ;  "I  had  vainly  imagined  that,  of  all  the 
black  band,  you  took  the  most  unalloyed  delight  in  the  noble 
profession  of  robbery  1" 

"I  confess,"  replied  Curran,  and  the  cloud  on  his  variable 
countenance  changed  to  sudden  sunshine  ;  "  that  this  wild  life 
has  unspeakable  charms  for  both  my  senses  and  imagination. 
Its  hourly  perils,  its  never-ceasing  activity,  its  thrilling  advent 
ures,  and  startling  events,  present'the  very  pictures  of  my  early 
day-dreams,  and  embody  the  romance  of  the  boy.  I  utterly 
abhor  its  crimes  and  cruelties  ;  but  I  love  its  fetterless  freedom, 
its  wanderings  among  the  glorious  old  woods,  its  stormy  rides 
and  starlight  vigils,  its  visons  of  the  gleaming  dawn,  and  golden 
sunset,  its  music  of  singing  bullets  and  sounding  steel,  the  wild 
cries  of  strife,  and  sonorous  shouts  of  victory.  These,  and  these 
only  enchant  me,  and  keep  me  in  the  company." 

"  I  fear,  that  you  will  soon  have  more  than  enough  of  such 
spicy  novelties,  unless  you  learn  to  be  guided  by  reason,  rather 
than  fancy,"  suggested  the  captain. 

"  Well,  the  irrevocable  day  must  come,  at  last,"  said  the  lieu 
tenant,  thoughtfully  ;  "for  none  may  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin, 
without,  sooner  or  later,  suffering  its  punishment." 

11  Sin  and  punishment  1"  echoed  Carlyle,  in  musing,  melan 
choly  accents  ;  "  what  are  these  but  idle  words  ?  terms  without 
meaning,  invented  by  hypocrisy  for  the  profit  of  the  politician 
and  of  the  priest.  Fables  to  grind  the  poor  into  dust,  and  glorify 


200        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

the  proud.  Does  not  the  viewless  hand  of  an  unknown  and 
unimaginable  Destiny  shape  all  our  actions  as  much  as  the  linea 
ments  of  our  visages,  or  the  limbs  of  Our  living  clay  ?  Do  not 
all  our  thoughts,  and  the  currents  of  our  inmost  feelings,  ebb 
and  flow,  according  to  the  eternal  and  unalterable  laws,  govern 
ing  the  association  of  human  ideas,  with  the  same  uniform  irre 
versible  regularity,  which  guides  the  pulsations  of  the  heart,  and 
the  circulation  of  the  blood  through  the  veins  and  arteries,  and 
which  presides  over  the  ocean  billows  from  the  flaming  equinox 
to  the  ice  of  the  frozen  zones  1" 

"  Can  the  fire  at  will  change  itself  to  frost,  or  the  drifts  of 
everlasting  snow  dissolve  themselves  in  genial  dew-drops,  and 
descend  from  their  Alpine  summits,  in  the  music  of  silver- 
singing  rain  ?  Can  the  lordly  lion,  whose  heart  is  a  volcano, 
transform  his  burning  breath,  his  proud  voice  of  thunder,  and  his 
tameless  terrible  nature,  into  the  timid  bleating,  and  gentle 
docility  of  the  lamb  in  the  farm-yard  ?  Can  a  Christian  be 
brought  up  under  the  regime  of  the  Crescent,  or  a  turbaned 
Turk  in  the  nursery  of  the  holy  Cross  !  If  man  be  all  too  -impo 
tent  to  alter  even  the  hue  of  his  hair  or  eyes,  or  the  skin-deep 
dye  of  his  complexion,  can  such  a  helpless  creature  be  rationally 
expected  to  change  the  color  of  his  profound,  mysterious  passions, 
or  the  natural  tinge  of  his  instinctive  disposition  ?  No,  there  is 
one  great  gloomy  word,  that  explains  all  philosophy,  religion,  law, 
ethics,  ideas,  and  actions — every  problem  of  life,  and  every  fact 
of  nature — and  that  word  is  Fatality ! ;; 

"  Your  theory  of  itself  is  but  a  film  of  foolish  abstraction," 
replied  the  other.  "  Besides  levelling  humanity  with  the  atoms 


CARLYLE  AND  CURRAN.  201 

of  earth,  and  animals  of  the  flood  and  field,  it  ignores  an  essen 
tial  part  of  bis  mental  and  moral  constitution,  denying  the 
existence  of  both  the  will  and  conscience.  If  you  really  believed 
what  you  so  eloquently  preach,  you  would  not  need  to  devise 
any  precautions  against  impending  perils,  but  let  the  iron  wheels 
of  Destiny  roll  on,  without  help  or  hindrance  from  your  ineffect 
ual  fingers.  For  cui  bono  ?  What  will  avail  the  efforts  of  an 
insect's  fluttering  wing  to  stir  or  stay  the  whirlwind  that  tosses 
the  world,  like  a  feather,  on  its  ruthless  raging  gyrations  ?  If 
you  had  faith  in  this  fantastic  creed,  you  would  never  shudder 
and  moan  in  your  sleep,  when  the  grim  ghosts  of  your  murdered 
victims  come  gliding  with  pale  faces  in  your  dreams  !" 

"  It  is  all  the  result  of  the  same  endless  all-embracing  Fatal 
ity,"  urged  Carlyle  ;  "  that  has  given  us  the  imagination  to 
manufacture  spectres,  and  people  heaven  and  hell  with  fancied 
forms,  shadowy  beings  of  the  brain,  with  no  more  reality  than 
sylphs  of  the  sunbeam,  or  the  obsolete  fairies  of  the  summer 
night's  green,  bubbles  of  moonshine,  shapes  of  morning  mist, 
which  melt  into  air  at  the  day-dawn  of  positive  science." 

"Your  sophistry  is  powerless  to  satisfy  either  the  head  or 
heart,"  answered  Curran.  "It  is  utterly  incredible  that  the 
Author  of  the  universe  in  a  world  of  such  endless,  unbroken, 
sublime  harmony,  should  have  interpolated  such  a  startling 
anomaly,  as  your  cruel  hypothesis  would  make  man.  For,  there 
is  not  one  instinct,  desire,  or  innate  passion,  either  in  the  human, 
or  even  brute  creation,  which  does  not  find  its  fitting  sphere  of 
objective  enjoyment.  Lo  !  the  azure  heights  of  the  blue,  beamy  air, 
for  the  cloud-skimming  wing  of  the  golden  eagle,  while  the  forest 


202  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

and  flood  below,  teem  with  food  for  his  ardent  hunger,  and  the 
suu-bright  plumage  of  his  mate  soothes  his  fierce  and  fiery  love. 
Throughout  all  the  leafy  woods,  and  murmuring  waters,  populous 
with  innumerable  shapes  of  life,  can  a  single  bird,  beast,  insect 
or  fish  be  found,  with  an  appetite  of  useless  torture,  without  the 
possibility  of  gratification  ?  And  does  not  this  general  rule,  as 
immutable  as  the  law  of  attraction,  hold  equally  in  the  case  of 
man  ?  The  eye  delights  in  colors.  Well,  yonder,  floats  above 
us,  the  cerulean  curtain  of  heaven,  lined  with  silver  clouds,  and 
freckled  with  golden  fires,  while  the  earth  and  sea  beam  with 
tints  of  eternal  beauty,  as  if  an  immeasurable  rainbow  had  been 
shivered  into  fine  fragments,  and  strewed  over  land  and  ocean  ! 

"  The  ear  asks  for  melody.  Listen  to  the  answer  of  benignant 
nature,  in  the  warbled  tones  of  a  thousand  bird-songs,  in  the 
wild  whispers  of  the  evening  wind,  in  the  solemn  murmurs  of  the 
pine-tops,  in  the  deep  bass  of  the  ocean  billows,  and  more  than 
all,  in  the  divine  music  of  the  human  voice,  that  can  wander  at 
will,  like  some  celestial  nightingale,  through  all  the  notes  in  the 
scale  of  harmony." 

Now,  the  yearning  soul  pines  for  its  passion-promised  bride, 
and  the  hot  heart  throbs  with  nameless  emotion.  Nature  will 
not  deny  her  own  inspired  prophecy.  Behold  !  there  is  beautiful 
woman,  in  her  youthful  radiance,  the  bright  fulfillment,  the 
embodied  dream,  the  present  angel  of  the  former  hope.  And  so 
of  every  other  principle  inherent  in  our  mysterious  organization 
of  mingled  mind  and  matter.  All  the  flowers  of  the  soul  bear 
their  proper  fruit  in  the  season  of  their  happy  harvest,  unless 
blighted  by  sin,  or  false  education.  If  such  then  be  this  univer- 


CARLYLE  AND  CURRAN.  203 

sal  law,  without  one  single  failure,  whenever,  we  have  the  means 
of  verification,  is  it  not  moon  struck  madness  to  distrust  it  in  the 
only  case,  where  the  object  of  the  desire  lies  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  senses  ?  For  there  is  no  passion,  at  once  so  profound,  gen 
eral,  and  all-enduring  as  this  burning,  boundless  want  of  perpetu 
ity  of  existence  ;  and  if  it  be,  indeed,  a  delusion,  then  the  Creator 
himself  must  be  cruel  as  well  as  false,  to  break  before  our  eyes 
these  glimpses  of  immortal  light,  only  to  render  the  thought  of 
darkness  and  annihilation  the  more  unendurable  I" 

"  Creator  1"  echoed  Carlyle,  with  a  mocking  smile  ;  "  terror 
and  imagination  made  the  gods  I" 

"  It  would  be  much  nearer  the  truth,  to  say,  that  fear  forms 
the  unbeliever,"  retorted  the  other. 

"  If  your  sentiments  are  so  orthodox,  why  do  you  not  put- 
them  into  practice  1"  urged  the  captain,  resorting  to  the  final 
argument  ad  hominem. 

11  The  bewildering  fascination  of  your  influence  prevents  me," 
answered  Curran,  with  a  laugh,  and  then  added  seriously  ;  "  I 
often  shape  out  schemes  of  reformation,  especially  when  alone  at 
midnight,  and  I  seem  to  see  my  old  mother's  saintly  smile  away  up 
among  the  loveliest  stars  ;  but  on  the  morrow,  the  sun  brings 
back  again  the  fierce  tire  into  all  my  veins,  and  I  think  no  more 
of  my  penitential  vows,  which  vanish  in  the  air,  like  the  dews  of 
the  morning." 

At  this  moment  one  of  the  band  came  in,  with  manifest  signs 
of  fear  and  astonishment  depicted  on  his  features  : 

"  What  is  the  ill  news,  now,  Dublin  Jack  ?"  inquired  Carlyle. 

"O,  yer  honor,  the  bloody  lynchers  have  nabbed  Judge  Moore, 


204  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

the  two  Bartons  and  Sol  Tuttle.  The  country  swarms  like  a 
bee-hive  with  the  dirty  devils." 

"  They  have  captured  Judge  Moore  !"  repeated  the  captain  in 
tones  of  amazement  ;  "  but  it  will  work  well  for  us.  General 
Houston  will  call  them  to  a  dreadful  reckoning  for  the  daring 
deed,  especially  if  they  should  hang  him,  which  would  not  sur 
prise  me  in  the  least." 

"  You  may  be  sure,  they  will  do  it,"  affirmed  Curran  ;  "  they 
will  never  forgive  his  successful  speculations  in  land." 

"  Have  you  seen  anything,  Jack,  of  the  messenger  that  I 
sent,  last  night,  after  Colonel  Miles  and  his  daughter  ?" 

"  No,  yer  honor,"  answered  the  robber. 

"  That  is  very  strange,"  murmured  the  chief  ;  "  they  ought  to 
have  been  here  hours  ago  ;  and  it  is  very  perilous  for  them  to 
remain,  unprotected  where  they  are  " 

The  instant  afterwards,  however,  the  colonel  entered,  and 
Carlyle  hastily  inquired  ; 

"  Where  is  Mary  ?" 

"  In  the  parlor,"  responded  the  father. 

"  Have  you  introduced  her  to  my  sister  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  was  the  reply,  at  which  Curran  opened  his  blue 
eyes  to  the  full  dimensions  of  astonishment. 

"  Be  seated,  colonel,"  invited  the  captain  ;  "  this  is  a  strange 
state  of  things  !" 

"  Very  extraordinary,"  complained  Miles,  in  a  gloomy  voice. 

"  Did  you  hear  that  the  regulators  have  taken  Judge 
Moore  ?" 

"  Yes,  and  it  was  a  luckv  move  for  us" 


CARLYLE  AND  CURRAN.  205 

"  They  also  caught  Jonathan  Hutson." 

"  Then  it  is  time  for  us  all  to  commit  suicide  1"  cried  the 
colonel,  in  fearful  agitation  ;  "for  he  will  not  only  reveal  all  our 
plans,  but  conduct  them  to  the  camp  where  we  keep  the  stolen 
negroes." 

"  We  must  arrange  somehow  to  have  him  shot,  before  he  can 
do  it,"  suggested  the  chief. 

"  That  will  not  mend  the  matter  much,  after  his  disclosures. 
No,  the  thing  is  up  ;  the  whole  country  will  rise  upon  us,  and 
massacre  us  like  wolves." 

"  But  General  Houston,  and  a  strong  force  of  rangers  are 
at  Nacogdoches,  and  they  will  certainly  march  to  quell  the 
insurrection." 

"  Yes,  but  they  may  come  too  late  to  rescue  our  necks  from 
the  halter,"  said  Miles,  with  a  sigh  of  despair. 

"  I  addressed  a  note  to  the  President,  on  the  very  night,, 
when  the  lynchers  organized,"  remarked  Carlyle. 

"  Then,  there  may  be  some  little  chance  left  for  us  yet," 
replied  the  colonel:  "but  for  myself,  I  hardly  entertain  the 
shadow  of  a  hope." 

As  he  spoke  a  man  rushed  into  the  room,  covered  with  wounds 
and  blood,  and  so  bewildered  with  terror,  that  at  first  he  had 
not  the  power  to  articulate  a  sentence. 

"  Oh,  Jim  Fink,  what  has  happened  ?"  exclaimed  the  three 
bandits  in  the  same  breath. 

"The  lynchers  have  cotch  'em  all  !"  faltered  Fink. 

"  Whom  have  they  captured  ?"  shouted  Carlyle,  almost  in  a 
state  of  phrensy. 


206       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  Bob  Taylor,  and  twenty  of  yer  best  men." 

"  Great  Heaven  !  did  they  storm  the  camp  ?"  gasped  the 
chief. 

"  We  was'nt  at  the  camp." 

"  Where  were  you,  then,  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  cowardly 
and  foolish  ?" 

"Why,  heern  as  how  the  regerlators  wur  guine  to  cotch 
y'  all  and  swing  y'  up  to  dry,  us  thought  we'd  better  heave  to, 
and  gin  y'  a  lift  ;  but  when  we  fotch  up  in  the  dead  man's  grove, 
as  them  call  it,  and  I  guess  as  how  'twill  bar  a  wusser  name 
herearter,  all  in  a  twinkling,  quicker  nor  y'  could  say  Jack  Rob- 
ison,  the  bushes  all  blazed  like  a  burnin'  prairie,  and  the  rifles 
roared  behind  every  tree,  and  our  boys  dropped  like  pigeon- 
shootin'  ;  and  then  the  rest  on  'em  squalled  fur  mercy,  and  wur 
tooke  alive.  But  misfortinilly  I  'scaped.  'Gaze  when  one  big 
•feller  run  up  to  grab  me,  'nuther  fool  struck  at  me  with  his  frog- 
sticker,  and  hit  the  hoss,  who  'medately  made  tracks  fur  tall 
timber,  and  so  here  I  is." 

"  The  camp  is  without  a  guard,  and  all  the  niggers  will  get 
away  1"  exclaimed  both  the  captain  and  the  colonel ;  "  who  ever 
heard  of  such  simpletons  ?" 

"  Oh  !  for  the  presence  of  Houston  ?"  groaned  Carlyle  ;  "  if 
he  delays,  all  will  be  lost  !" 

Suddenly  a  loud  acclamation  rent  the  air  in  the  yard  ;  "  Here, 
is  Roaring  Dick  !  He  is  worth  a  dozen  men."  And  in  less  than 
half  a  minute,  the  great  swarthy-faced  favorite  of  the  band 
entered  the  library,  with  an  embarrassed,  crest-fallen  air,  very 
different  from  his  usual  glorious  swagger. 


CARLYLE  AND  CURRAN.  207 

"  Well,  Dick,  did  you  see  General  Houston  ?"  inquired  the 
chief  in  eager  haste. 

''Yes,  rather  too  much  of  him,"  answered  the  ruffian,  with  a 
lowering  brow. 

"  Did  you  give  him  the  letter  ?" 

"Yes,  and  I  wish  ypu  could  hev  seed  him  readin'  it.  He 
ground  his  tushes,  foamed  at  the  mouth,  and  swore  wus  nor 
ever  I  did.  His  eyes,  fur  all  the  world,  looked  like  a  mad 
dog's  I" 

"He  was  furious  at  the  lynchers,"  suggested  Carlyle. 

"  Furious  at  the  devil  1"  roared  Dick  ;  "no  sich  thing.  He 
said,  that  wur  it  not  fur  upholdin'  the  law,  he'd  be  glad,  if  old 
Morrow  would  hang  every  one  of  us  bandits,  and  he'd  as  leave 
help  to  do  it,  as  not,  hisself." 

"  Perhaps,  you  made  a  mistake,  and  gave  him  another  letter." 

"No,  sir,  I  gave  him  the  one,  what  you  give  me  ;  but  I'll  be 
sworn,  the  direction  wur  not  in  yer  own  handwriting." 

"  Then  somebody  must  have  effected  the  change  in  your 
pocket,"  said  the  chief,  pale  as  death,  while  the  colonel  trembled 
in  every  limb. 

"  I  ventured  to  tell  the  general  that  he  mout  be  mistaken  in 
the  notions  he  had  about  people  in  these  here  diggins,"  added 
Dick  ;  "  and  what  do  y'  spose  he  done  ?" 

"  I  cannot  imagine,"  was  the  answer. 

"  He  spit  a  mouthful  of  tobaccer  juice  right  into  my  face  and 
eyes." 

"  Why  did  you  not  knock  him  down  ?"  asked  Curran,  with  a 
laugh. 


208  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

"  If  any  pusson  wishes  old  Sam  knocked  down,  he's  welcome 
to  try  the  speriment  hisself  ;  fur,  by  thunder  I  this  here  chile 
don't  want  to  risk  it." 

"  We  are  ruined,  without  a  hope  or  the  possibility  of  deliver 
ance  !"  sighed  Colonel  Miles,  "  unless  we  speedily  escape." 

"  There  is  no  other  place  to  which  we  can  fly,"  responded  the 
captain  ;  "  the  atmosphere  of  both  Arkansas  and  Louisiana 
would  be  as  unhealthy  for  you  and  rne  as  that  of  Texas." 

"  What,  then,  shall  we  do  T1  asked  the  colonel,  almost 
stupefied  with  fear. 

"  Stay,  and  fight  it  out,  to  the  last  bullet  in  our  shot-pouches, 
and  the  final  drop  of  blood  in  our  veins,"  cried  Carlyle,  in  a 
voice  of  thunder. 

"  That's  the  talk,"  exclaimed  Curran,  his  blue  eyes  blazing  with 
the  red  light  of  battle  ;  "  huzza  I  for  an  honorable  death,  and  a 
soldier's  grave  !  We  will  all  sleep  well,  when  the  war  of  life 
is  over  I" 


CHAPTER  XYII. 


LUCY. 


IT  may  well  be  imagined,  that  the  beautiful  Mary  heard  with 
dismay  and  horror,  the  proposal  of  her  father,  to  take  up  their 
temporary  residence  at  the  block-house  of  Captain  Carlyle ;  nor 
did  the  fabulous  representation  that  Lucy  was  the  bandit's 
sister,  tend,  in  the  slightest  degree,  to  allay  her  apprehensions, 
for  she  gave  no  faith  to  the  flimsy  falsehood.  But  the  commands 
of  the  colonel  were  imperative,  and  force  compelled  her  to  obey. 
Having  never  yet  beheld  the  ostensible  mistress  of  the  establish 
ment,  much  as  she  had  been  spoken  of  in  her  presence,  the  maiden 
gazed  upon  such  marvellous  beauty  with  mingled  emotions  of 
astonishment  and  admiration,  and  the  surprise  was  still  greater, 
if  possible,  at  the  intelligence  manifested  in  her  countenance,  and 
the  winning  courtesy  of  Irer  demeanor. 

"  Come  with  me  to  my  room,  dear,"  said  Lucy,  in  accents  of 
the  most  touching  tenderness,  as  soon  as  Colonel  Miles  had  left 
the  parlor. 

"  Let  me  look  at  you  standing  up,  a  moment,"  requested 
Lucy,  in  the  same  kind  voice,  when  they  found  themselves  alone 
in  her  private  apartment  ;  and  the  two  women  scrutinized  each 


210  BANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

other's  forms  and  features,  with  long  and  earnest  attention.  A 
stranger,  who  had  witnessed  this  mutual  examination,  would 
have  been  struck,  at  once,  with  the  similarity  and  contrast 
between  these  fascinating  females,  both  models  of  their  charming 
sex,  though  belonging  to  different  orders  of  the  beautiful.  Both 
were  raven-haired,  and  dark-eyed,  with  faultless  faces  and  fig 
ures,  with  slender  waists,  and  round  tapering  limbs,  symmetrical 
in  all  their  proportions,  as  if  two  divine  dreams  of  some  imagina 
tive  artist,  in  his  deep  longings  for  unearthly  love,  had  been 
embodied  in  these  bright  beings  of  the  western  woods.  But  the 
bust  and  bosom  of  Lucy  were  fuller  and  richer,  and  ttie  wild  lus 
tre  of  her  burning  black  eyes  resembled  flashing  fire,  compared 
with  the  pure  starry  light  that  beamed  in  the  chaste  orbs  of  the 
other.  Her  lips  were  also  largej  and  of  a  deeper  color,  while 
the  golden  hue  of  her  complexion  glowed  with  a  warmer  blush 
than  the  rose-tints  of  Mary's  lily-white  features.  In  fine,  the 
former  might  have  symbolized  the  ideal  of  the  terrestrial  Venus, 
and  the  latter  would  well  have  represented  the  celestial  goddess 
as  the  virgin  divinity  of  innocent  love,  chaste  and  changeless  as 
the  very  stars  in  the  sky,  according  to  the  myth  of  dual  meaning 
invented  by  the  poets  of  the  young  world. 

As  the  mistress  of  Carlyle  gazed  nipon  the  charms  of  the 
other,  a  shade  of  unutterable  sadness  came  over  her  brow,  and 
she  murmured  mournfully  : 

"  I  do  not  wonder  now,  at  the  madness  of  his  passion  ;  you 
are,  indeed,  so  exceedingly  beautiful  ;  but  such  a  sinless  angel 
would  fall  fearfully  to  wed  a  devil  like  him  !  Yet,  oh  !  you  are 
transcendeutly  beautiful  I" 


LUCY.  211 

"  But  you  are  much  the  more  beautiful  of  us  two,"  answered 
Mary,  touched  to  the  heart,  by  the  other's  melancholy  voice  and 
manner. 

"  No,  no,"  protested  Lucy  ;  "come,  and  see  ;"  and  she  caught 
the  young  girl's  arm,  and  drew  her  to  a  large  mirror.  "  There," 
she  said,  with  a  painful  sigh  ;  "behold  the  difference.  Purity 
lives  on  your  face,  like  light  on  the  surface  of  a  star  ;  but  mine 
burns  eternally  with  a  blush  of  shame.  Your  dark  eyes  are 
loadstars  of  virgin  love  ;  mine,  the  wandering  meteors  of  wicked 
passion  and  the  wildest  hatred.  Your  countenance  beams  with 
blessed  memories  and  holy  thoughts  ;  but  mine  bears  the  fiery 
traces  of  horrible  recollections,  and  unpardonable  crimes,  the 
footprints  of  sin  and  sorrow,  which  all  the  rains  of  heaven,  all  the 
waters  of  the  sea,  could  never  wash  away  !" 

She  paused,  and  a  pair  of  bitter  burning  tears,  like  drops  of 
molten  metal,  hung  on  her  long  raven  lashes^  while  her  lips 
writhed  convulsively.  At  length,  she  remarked  in  firmer  tones  : 

"  Be  seated,  dear  ;  for  in  order  to  gain  your  confidence,  I 
must  tell  you  the  strange  story  of  my  life,  with  some  facts  in  the 
history  of  others.  Let  me  begin,  at  once  ;  because,  we  know  not 
how  soon  the  narrative  may  be  interrupted,  since  danger  and 
death  beset  us  on  every  side,  and  tragical  events  may  be  impend 
ing  this  very  hour  ;  but  whatever  shall  happen,  trust  me  as  your 
friend. 

"  My  father,"  she  commenced,  "  was  a  Spaniard  of  genuine 
Castilian  descent,  who  boasted,  with  what  truth,  I  am  unable 
to  affirm  positively,  that  noble  blood  flowed  in  his  veins,  and 
certainly,  he  possessed  sufficient  pride  to  have  endowed  a  dozen 


212  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

peerages,  and  still  have  retained  enough  for  the  dignity  of  a 
royal  line.  He  was,  in  short,  a  severe  haughty  man,  immeas 
urably  vain  of  his  only  child,  but  utterly  destitute  of  tenderness, 
that  essential  element  of  all  true  affection.  Unluckily  for  him 
self  as  well  as  me,  his  fortune,  having  been,  for  the  most  part, 
lost  in  some  revolution  of  his  native  land,  did  not  correspond 
with  his  vanity,  and  this  circumstance,  doubtless,  increased,  if  it 
did  not  cause,  his  habitual  sternness  and  melancholy. 

"Of  my  mother,  I  know  nothing,  not  even  her  name  ;  for  I 
never  dared  to«question  my  father  on  the  subject,  save  once,  and 
I  shall  never  forget  the  wild  look  of  mingled  rage  and  horror, 
and  the  frightful  menace,  with  which  he  rebuked  my  curiosity. 
I  cannot  tell,  at  this  moment,  where  I  was  born,  whether  in  the 
Crescent  City,  which  is  the  first  place,  that  I  remember,  or  in 
the  old  country,  beyond  the  sea. 

"  Love  is  the  first  want  of  the  infant  heart,  for  which  there 
can  be  no  compensation.  It  is  the  natural  food  of  the  young 
soul  as  much  as  the  milk  of  the  mother  is  that  of  the  frail  body. 
But  alas  1  this  rich  inheritance  of  the  poorest  slaves,  this  boon 
of  heaven,  enjoyed  by  the  lowest  brute  animals,  was  altogether 
denied  me. 

"  We  had  one  female  servant,  with  several  small  children,  and 
I  used  to  watch  with  bitter  emotions  and  burning  tears,  which 
only  the  susceptible  nature  of  a  child  can  experience,  the  caresses 
that  this  African  mother  bestowed  on  her  homely  offspring.  I 
would  have  given  worlds  for  one  such  kiss,  even  from  her 
swarthy  lips  ;  and  employed  all  the  means,  that  my  mind  could 
imagine  to  win  her  affection,  without  success  ;  for  somehow,  she 


LUCY.  213 

seemed  to  entertain  a  fixed  dislike  for  me,  as  if  she  regarded  me 
as  the  rival  of  her  own  ebon  progeny. 

"  My  father's  pride  prompted  him  to  anxious  cares  for  my 
education  ;  but  instead  of  sending  me  to  school  with  my  equals 
in  age,  as  I  implored  with  sobs  and  tears,  he  provided  me  with 
a  private  teacher  still  more  austere  than  himself.  At  last,  how 
ever,  the  burden  of  my  loveless  solitude  became  lightened^  I 
learned  to  read,  and  the  parent  being  passionately  fond  of 
gloomy  romances,  the  daughter  was  supplied  with  countless  vol 
umes,  well  suited  to  her  tastes,  it  must  be  confessed,  but 
poorly  fitted  to  cultivate  proper  habits  of  either  thought  or 
feeling. 

*'  Thenceforth,  I  was  nevermore  alone.  I  passed  my  days, 
and  too  often  my  nights,  in  that  weird  ideal  world,  created  by 
the  cunning  hand  of  mystic  imagination,  and  reared  on  pillars  of 
mingled  moonshine  and  midnight  shadows,  more  enduring  to  my 
thought,  than  any  sensible  forms,  even  than  all  the  old  grey 
granite  of  the  everlasting  hills.  I  held  grim  or  glorious  converse 
with  the  thousand  spectres,  the  ghosts  of  the  immortal  dead,  and 
listened  to  the  whispered  secrets  of  every  wild  passion,  that  can 
madden  the  mind,  or  move  the  human  breast. 

"  Oh  I  how  my  heart  would  burn  with  desire,  or  throb  with 
nameless  rapture,  whenever  I  took  up  a  new  novel,  and  tearing 
open  the  leaves  in  hot  haste,  with  trembling  fingers,  like  a  hungry 
tiger  pouncing  on  its  prey  !  How  I  wept  when  the  same  fiery 
language  of  ardent  love  met  my  eager  eyes,  and  flashed  on, 
leaping,  as  live  lightning,  from  page  to  page,  while  I  moaned  a 
lingering  farewell,  as  I  turned  each  sheet,  to  think  that  my  per- 


214        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

feet  beatitude  of  hours  had  been  abridged  by,  at  least,  another 
minute. 

"  How  I  fluctuated,  between  hope  and  despair,  with  the 
changing  fortunes  of  the  fond  youth  and  his  maiden,  rocking  in 
fancy,  like  a  small  boat  on  the  billows  of  a  stormy  sea,  realizing 
their  inmost  thoughts,  their  utmost  agony  of  emotions,  as  pro 
foundly  as  if  I  had  been  myself  the  actual  heroine  of  the  story  ! 
How  I  blushed  beneath  the  touch  of  imaginary  embraces !  How  I 
raved  with  the  frenzy  of  jealousy,  and  stabbed  with  the  dagger  of 
revenge  !  and  was  everything  by  turns,  that  the  wild  tragedy 
could  render  me  1  In  fine,  if  my  father  had  premeditated  to  make 
me  the  very  being  that  I  am,  and  have  been,  he  could  not  have 
selected  any  other  course  of  reading  and  culture,  so  exactly, 
so  inevitably  adapted  to  accomplish  such  a  purpose. 

"  Out  of  all  the  innumerable  heroes  that  had  so  deeply  inter 
ested  my  imagination,  I  culled  the  traits  which  I  most  loved  in 
each,  and  so  fondly  cherished  them  in  the  depths  of  memory, 
that  they  grew  together  as  a  harmonious  whole,  the  image  of 
my  worship,  the  ideal  of  my  heart.  This  was  my  first  lover — a 
being  of  unrivalled  beauty,  with  mystic  dark  eyes,  and  ringlets 
of  raven  hair,  and  with  bravery  stamped,  as  with  an  immortal 
die,  on  every  luminous  feature.  I  vowed  again  and  again,  that 
such  should  be  my  bridegroom,  and  I  felt  the  fixed  presentiment, 
that  sooner  or  later  I  should  find  him. 

"Over  these  fairy  and  fantastic  realms  I  wandered  at  will,  till 
my  fourteenth  summer,  when  a  cousin  of  my  father,  bearing  our 
family  name,  arrived  from  old  Spain.  My  feelings  of  disgust 
will  not,  even  now,  permit  me  to  describe  this  relative,  embody- 


,  LUCY.  215 

ing  as  he  did,  in  his  single  person,  all  the  most  revolting  traits 
belonging  to  the  most  hideous  monsters  of  romance;  suffice  it  to 
say,  that  Juan  Gordo  was  the  ugliest  man  whom  I  had  ever 
seen,  or  so  much  as  dreamed  of.  He  was,  however,  immensely 
rich,  and  this  one  fact,  in  the  eyes  of  my  parent,  atoned  for 
every  other  deficiency,  and  accordingly,  he  soon  became  his 
special  confidant.  It  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  paint  the 
loathing  that  I  felt  for  this  mass  of  human  deformity,  and  to 
make  the  matter  worse,  he  almost  immediately  manifested  a 
remarkable  fondness  for  my  society.  Go  where  I  would,  into 
the  parlor,  the  library,  or  to  walk  in  the  garden,  this  dragon 
followed  me  with  his  persevering  attentions,  till  I  fairly  deemed 
myself  haunted  by  some  fiend*ln  the  human  shape,  such  as  we 
read  of  in  the  old  romances. 

"But  the  fiery  cup  of  my  torture  was  not  yet  full.  One  day 
my  father  ordered  me  to  dress  myself  with  unusual  care,  as  he 
said,  for  a  drive  to  the  French  cathedral.  The  order  aston 
ished  me  the  more,  as  neither  of  us  had  ever  attended  any  church 
since  the  earliest  dawn  of  my  recollection.  However,  I  was 
greatly  delighted  also,  as  I  would  now  have  an  opportunity  of 
seeing  something  of  that  gay  and  glorious  world,  of  which  I 
had,  as  yet,  only  dreamed  ;  for  my  seclusion  hitherto  had  been 
as  absolute,  as  if  an  inmate  of  an  eastern  harem.  Accord 
ingly,  I  put  on  my  most  beautiful  dress,  and  crowned  my  dark 
hair  with  a  radiant  wreath  of  roses,  and  when  I  surveyed  my 
features  in  the  glass,  I  blushed  at  the  sight  of  own  loveliness. 
*  Oh  I'  I  exclaimed  in  a  burst  of  passion  and  pride  ;  '  could  I 


216       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

meet  with  my  ideal  now,  how  soon  would  he  throw  himself  at 
my  feet,  and  claim  me  for  the  bride  of  his  bosom  !' 

" '  Come  let  us  be  off,'  said  my  father,  as  I  entered  the 
parlor.  '  Bonita  !  bonita  I'  exclaimed  Juan  Gordo,  in  raptur 
ous  tones,  articulating  in  Spanish,  for  the  monster  could  not 
speak  but  a  few  words  of  broken  English. 

"  We  three  rode  away  in  the  carriage,  one  hired  for  the  occa 
sion,  and  indeed  we  had  never  before  needed  such  a  vehicle,  as 
even  my  parent  scarcely  ever  left  the  house.  In  a  short  time 
we  reached  the  old  cathedral,  but  to  my  amazement  we  found 
no  one  there  save  a  grey-headed  man  with  sinister  features,  who 
received  us  with  a  lurid  smile,  and  a  look  as  of  fiendish  mockery. 
This  I  quickly  learned,  was  a  Spanish  priest. 

"  Suddenly,  my  father  commanded  in  his  usually  severe  tones  : 
"  '  Stand  up,  Lucy,  and  be  married.' 

"  Had  a  thunderbolt  shivered  the  roof  above  my  head,  my 
astonishment  could  not  have  been  greater.  A  feeling  of  mortal 
sickness  came  over  me.  My  heart  gave  a  lightning-like  leap, 
and  then  lay  still  as  a  lump  of  ice.  I  gasped  for  breath  as  if 
in  the  act  of  suffocation,  and  reeling,  would  have  fallen  on 
the  floor,  had  not  Juan  Gordo  caught  me  in  his  hideous 
embrace. 

"  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  contact  of  that  abhorred  crea 
ture  revived  me  instantly.  With  a  convulsive  tremor  that 
shook  all  my  nerves  like  an  earthquake,  I  regained  sufficient 
strength  to  withdraw  from  those  hateful  arms,  more  dreadful  to 
me  than  the  coil  of  a  rattle-snake. 


LUCY.  217 

"  'Lucy,  stand  np  and  be  married  !'  repeated  rny  father  in  a 
terrible  voice. 

"  Then  a  new  idea  occurred  to  my  mind.  It  must  be  a  mere 
joke,  and  I  seized  the  suggestion  of  fancy  with  the  same  wild 
hope  which  fills  the  heart  of  the  drowning  sailor,  as  he  grasps 
amid  the  breakers,  the  last  plank  of  a  wreck. 

"  '  Whom  shall  I  marry  ?'  I  faltered,  with  ill-assumed  calmness. 

"  'Who,  but  your  cousin  here,  the  wealthy  Juan  G-ordo,  and 
a  great  deal  too  good  for  such  a  romantic  Miss  as  you,7  replied 
my  father,  with  a  cruel  sneer. 

"  '  Me,  carissima  !'  affirmed  the  dragon. 

"  I  heard  no  more,  but  uttering  a  frightful  shriek,  attempted 
to  fly  from  my  doom.  They  caught  me,  and  brought  me  back, 
and  by  some  means,  managed  to  force  me  through  the  forms.  I 
Knew  it  not — knew  nothing  for  long  weeks  of  sunless  night,  for 
my  mind  had  wandered  from  its  sphere  in  the  lovely  light  of 
nature,  into  the  gloomy  void  of  madness,  and  my  brain  now 
keeps  no  images  from  that  world  of  utter  darkness,  that  blank 
abyss  of  being,  the  interregnum  of  both  reason  and  imagination. 
How  strange  a  state  !  for  the  kind  nurse  employed  to  tend  me, 
during  the  malady,  informed  me  afterwards  that  my  fancy  was 
more  busy  than  ever,  and  that  I  talked  incessantly  of  my  ideal,  so 
that  she,  good  soul,  thought  I  was  speaking  of  some  human  lover, 
instead  of  my  sweet  dream  of  the  heart,  born  of  a  thousand 
wild  romances  !  and  so  did  my  father  and  the  dragon  husband. 

"  When  I  recovered  the  use  of  rational  consciousness,  I  found 
myself  in  a  fine  mansion,  with  the  monster,  Juan  Gordo,  by  my 
side.  All  the  events  of  my  past  life  seemed  to  present  themselves 


218        BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

at  once  to  my  view,  but  dim,  distant  and  glimmering,  like  the 
moonlight  on  some  misty  shore.  I  might  have  regarded  the 
whole  as  the  frail  fabric  of  an  unsubstantial  vision,  but  for  this 
terrible  reality  of  a  husband. 

"My  power  of  volition,  however,  had  been  weakened  by  the 
shock,  which  had  unsettled  my  reason,  and  I  sullenly  resigned 
myself  to  my  fate.  My  hatred  for  the  monster  gradually  changed 
to  a  sort  of  icy  indifference.  My  heart  became  a  tideless  sea,  which 
no  influence  could  move  any  more.  My  ugly  consort  did  not 
happen  to  possess  my  father's  instinctive  attachment  for  home. 
On  the  contrary,  he  was  passionately  fond  of  appearing  at  pub 
lic  places,  and  as  his  jealousy  governed  him  to  such  a  degree,  that 
he  could  never  suffer  me  to  be  a  moment  out  of  his  sight,  he 
necessarily  carried  me  with  him  to  the  theatre,  churches,  and  all 
suitable  gatherings,  where  swarms  of  people  might  be  found. 
But  always,  the  moment,  when  we  returned,  I  immediately 
buried  myself  in  my  beloved  books,  and  forgot  alike  the  joys  and 
sorrows  of  the  weary-working  world,  for  the  beautiful  beings, 
conjured  up  out  of  the  viewless  air,  by  those  wild  wizards,  the 
old  romancers. 

"  As  my  dragon-lord  could  not  bear  any  sort  of  printed  mat 
ter  himself,  and  was  a  perfect  bore  of  inane  garrulity,  he 
contracted  a  deadly  hatred  against  these  silent  but  most  amusing 
old  friends  of  mine,  who  deprived  him  altogether  of  my  society. 
One  morning,  I  was  in  my  room  dressing  to  accompany  him  to 
the  court-house,  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  an  important  crimi 
nal  case,  which  had  created  intense  popular  excitement.  Sud 
denly,  I  perceived  a  pungent  disagreeable  odor,  like  the  smell  of 


LUCY.  219 

burning  paper,  or  linen.  Supposing  that  the  house  had  taken  fire, 
I  flew  into  the  parlor.  You  may  imagine  my  agony  and  dismay, 
when  I  beheld  all  my  darling  volumes  heaped  up  on  the  grate, 
consuming  in  a  bright  blaze,  while  the  devil,  dragon  no 
longer,  stood  fanning  the  infuriate  flame,  grinning  with  infernal 

joy- 

"  I  shall  never  forget  the  anguish  of  that  moment,  surpassing 
anything  I  have  ever  suffered,  either  before  or  since.  As  the 
pitiless  fire  increased,  my  mute  favorites  seemed,  in  their  torture, 
to  gain  the  power  of  speech,  and  sighed,  moaned,  murmured,  and, 
at  last,  roared,  as  if  for  deliverance,  their  divine  leaves  quivering, 
like  naked  nerves,  in  the  flame,  or  twisting  and  writhing  like  liv 
ing  creatures  in  pain.  What  I  then  did,  or  said,  I  know  not, 
but  it  must  have  been  something  madly  insulting,  for  the  mon 
ster  slapped  me  in  the  face. 

"  Instantly  the  dead  sea  of  my  heart  stirred,  as  if  a  volcano 
had  broken  out  from  its  sunless  depths.  The  former  hatred 
returned  with  tenfold  violence,  and  I  internally  formed  a  fearful 
vow  of  vengeance,  even  while  I  forced  the  mockery  of  a  smile 
upon  my  lips. 

"  We  then  proceeded  to  the  court  house,  filled  with  the 
beauty  and  fashion  of  New  Orleans  ;  and  my  wealthy  husband, 
being  a  friend  of  the  judge,  secured  a  seat  for  us  on  the  plat 
form,  in  front  of  the  bar.  In  the  state  of  semi-consciousness, 
into  which  the  incidents  of  the  morning  had  plunged  me,  I  saw 
but  little  of  what  transpired,  until  roused  from  a  'deep  reverie  by 
a  voice  that  thrilled  through  my  brain  and  bosom,  like  the  sound 
of  a  silver  bell.  I  turned  my  head  towards  the  corner  of  the  bar, 


220  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF  THE   TANAHA. 

whence  the  mysterious  music  had  issued,  and  could  not  altogether 
suppress  a  low  cry  of  nameless  emotion. 

"  There,  present  to  all  my  senses,  stood  the  incarnation  of  my 
wildest  dreams — the  ideal  of  all  imagined  beauty — the  bride 
groom,  my  young  yearning  heart  had  so  vainly  promised  He 
had  the  same  dark  eyes,  the  ringlets  of  raven  hair,  the  same 
bravery  of  brow,  and  the  identical  form  and  features.  I  had  no 
power  to  withdraw  my  eyes  from  his  visage,  during  the  long 
speech,  which  he  pronounced  as  a  counsellor  in  the  cause,  no,  not 
even  when  he  glanced,  in  return  at  me,  with  evident  tokens  of 
admiration.  The  very  atmosphere  around  him  appeared  to 
exercise  over  me  a  sort  of  mystic  magnetic  influence,  a  species  of 
fascination,  as  strange  as  it  was  irresistible.  I  felt  as  if  a  celestial 
window  had  been  opened  in  my  side,  and  that  a  stream  of  golden 
lightning  was  flowing  from  those  bewitching  eyes  directly  into 
my  wildly-throbbing  heart. 

"  But  if  my  soul  had  been  so  spell-bound,  entranced  as  it  were, 
by  the  view  of  his  mere  person,  his  wonderful  eloquence  intensi 
fied  the  charm,  and  completed  the  conquest.  His  language  was 
more  beautiful  than  that  of  any  novel,  which  I  had  ever  read, 
and  his  words  burned,  flashed,  flew,  and  sparkled  like  stars.  In 
short,  I  loved  him,  at  first  sight,  and  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  I  had 
always  loved  him.  Indeed,  he  was  the  first  real  being  that  had 
ever  interested  my  previously  desert  and  solitary  heart.  It  is, 
therefore,  no  wonder,  if  my  love  was  worship,  and  that  worship, 
madness  ! 

"The  passion  was  mutual.  He  sought  an  introduction, 
through  the  judge,  to  my  husband,  and  finally  managed  to  get 


LUCY.  221 

inside  of  our  house,  but  never,  save  when  the  man-monster  was 
present  ;  for,  as  I  said  before,  he  never  let  me  out  of  his  sight. 
But  articulate  speech  is  not  necessary  for  the  communication  of 
lovers.  The  essence  of  all  successful  courtship  is  generally  con 
summated  by  the  eye,  before  the  voice  breathes  one  .burning 
vow.  I  loved,  and  knew  that. I  was  beloved,  ere  a  whisper  had 
been  exchanged  between  us. 

"  At  last,  we  effected  a  correspondence  by  letter,  through  the 
kind  nurse,  who  had  been  my  companion  during  the  period  of 
my  derangement,  and  who  now  recognized,  as  she  vainly  fancied, 
in  the  present  warm  suitor,  the  lover  of  my  imaginary  ravings. 

"  After  a  time,  however,  the  dragon  husband,  by  some  means, 
detected  this  secret  intercourse,  and  his  fury  surpassed  all  the 
bounds  of  both  reason  and  prudence.  His  jealous  wrath  was  a 
storm,  a  whirlwind  of  blows,  curses,  and  bruises.  He  covered 
me  with  blood  from  my  own  veins,  and  then  dragging  me  to  the 
door  by  the  hair,  kicked  me  into  the  street,  and  bade  me  go  to 
my  paramour,  and  tell  him  of  my  grievances. 

"  I  obeyed  the  brutal  order  to  the  letter — went  directly  to  my 
lover's  office,  and  related  the  entire  outrage  from  beginning  to 
end.  His  rage  exceeded  even  that  of  the  man-monster,  and 
without  uttering  a  menace,  I  saw  that  he  was  determined  on 
seeking  some  appalling  revenge. 

"  That  very  night,  when  the  city  was  wrapped  in  darkness, 
silence,  and  sleep,  two  burglars  broke  into  the  dwelling  of  Juan 
Gordo,  murdered  the  proprietor,  and  carried  off  fabulous  wealth 
in  bank  notes,  gold,  and  jewels.  The  leader  of  the  felons  was 
Captain  Carlyle." 


222  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

Mary  could  not  suppress  a  faint  exclamation  of  horror  at  this 
shocking  announcement. 

"  And  the  other,"  continued  Lucy  ;  "  dear,  have  you  the 
courage  to  learn  the  name  of  the  other  murderer  and  robber  ? 
It  is  necessary  for  your  welfare  that  you  should  know  it." 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Miles,  shuddering 
with  the  presentiment  of  the  horrifying  truth. 

"  Was  your  own  father  ;  and  this  is  the  main  mystery  of  Car- 
lyle's  power  over  him  1" 

"  Great  God  !  what  a  revelation  !  but  I  feared  as  much," 
gasped  Mary  with  white  lips. 

"  I  did  not  view  the  assassination  then  as  I  do  now,"  said  Lucy  ; 
"  it  seemed  to  me  but  sheer  justice,  and  accorded  too  well  with 
many  a  startling  catastrophe  in  the  pages  of  my  dear  old 
romances.  But  alas  !  I  have  proved  by  terrible  experience,  that 
there  can  be  no  lasting  love  between  criminal  hearts,  especially 
when  a  spectral  form  with  gory  locks,  flits  above  the  bed  of 
adultery.  Carlyle  has  violated  his  solemn  promise  to  make  me 
his  wife,  and  now  wishes  to  cast  me  away  for  a  fresher  face. 
But  his  bitter  bridal  will  be  with  the  skeleton  cross-bones  of 
death,  and  the  priest  shall  be  the  common  hangman.  Tremble 
not,  dear  Mary,  at  my  awful  words  ;  for  my  vengeance  will  be 
your  victory,  and  the  blow  which  rids  me  of  the  false  and  faith 
less  lover,  shall  bring  the  true  one  to  your  bosom  for  evermore  1" 
"  And  is  your  hatred  so  deadly  against  him  now  !  Is  it, 
indeed,  possible,  that  the  most  ardent  affection  can  be  changed 
into  the  deepest  aversion  ?"  inquired  the  young  girl,  with  a  look 
of  wonder. 


LUCY.  223 

"  As  might  be  inferred  from  your  present  inexperience,  you 
cannot  comprehend  such  an  astonishing  transformation,  this  mys 
terious  alchemy  ofrthe  human  heart,  and  Heaven  grant,  that  you 
may  never  be  the  wiser  ;  for  no  one  can  learn  this  infernal 
mystery  of  the  mind,  without  passing  beyond  the  pale  of  peace 
and  innocence,  and  forming  a  compact  with  the  powers  of  hell. 
But  never  does  the  nature  become  thoroughly  hardened, 
supremely  wicked,  never  does  the  soul  burn  with  a  consuming 
flame,  which  nothiug  can  quench  but  blood,  until  it  has  been 
melted  into  infinite  fondness  by  the  volcanic  heat  of  almighty 
love/' 

"  The  conduct  of  your  own  father  surprises  me  the  most  of 
all,"  said  Mary. 

"  I  have  never  been  able  to  account  for  it,"  remarked  Lucy, 
in  sorrowful  tones  ;  "  unless,  indeed,  he  was  actuated  by  a 
motive  of  revenge  against  me,  for  some  real  or  imaginary  wrong 
of  my  unknown  mother." 

"  It  is  a  terrible  tale,"  sighed  the  other.    ^ 

"It  will  be  far  more  fearful,  before  it  is  ended,"  answered 
Lucy. 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

THE     TRIAL     BY     TORTURE. 

« 

THE  morning  after  so  many  arrests  had  been  effected  by  the 
Lynchers,  as  detailed  in  previous  chapters,  William  Boiling, 
accompanied  by  the  small  party  that  had  rescued  him  from  the 
robbers,  arrived  at  Major  Morrow's,  and  could  scarcely  credit 
his  own  senses,  on  beholding  the  immense  gathering,  the  strange 
scenes,  and  stormy  excitement,  which  he  witnessed.  Crowds 
of  men,  boys,  and  even  women,  swarmed  in  the  house,  yard  and 
field,  one  half  of  them  at  least,  raving  almost  wildly  as  maniacs, 
with  mixed  emotions  of  anger,  grief,  or  terror. 

To  account  for  this  extraordinary  agitation,  it  must  be 
remembered,  that  in  making  their  captures,  the  regulators  had 
lost  several  of  their  favorite  men.  Jake  Johnson,  son  of  the 
parson,  had  been  killed  by  the  dog  at  Sol  Tattle's.  Mortin 
Morrow  had  fallen  by  the  hand  of  the  boy  ;  and  Bill  Minton 
was  stabbed  to  the  heart  by  Alfred  Moore.  The  wrath  and 
horror  of  their  relatives  and  friends  knew  no  bounds,  while 
every  member  of  the  organization  felt  that  all  had  engaged  in 
an  enterprise  attended  by  deadly  personal  peril ;  that  the  game 

224 


THE  TRIAL   BY   TORTURE.  225 

must  be  extremely  bloody,  and  that  life  and  death  were  the 
stakes  for  which  they  must  play. 

This  frightful  fact,  for  the  first  time  fully  realized,  horrified  the 
timid,  but  only  rendered  the  braye  more  reckless.  In  such  a 
state  of  feeling,  the  most  desperate  counsels  usually  prevail,  and 
a  majority  of  the  company  manifested  a  strong  disposition  to 
snatch  the  cases  out  of  the  hands  of  the  judicial  committee, 
and  subject  the  prisoners  to  summary  and  indiscriminate  mas 
sacre. 

William  Boiling  heard  with  dismay  the  ominous  menaces 
murmured  by  the  mob,  and  shuddered  for  the  consequences, 
when  the  eloquence  of  a  single  man,  for  the  present  allayed  the 
tumult.  The  youth  happened  to  be  standing  at  the  door,  near 
two  persons,  one  of  whom  seemed  to  be  a  stranger,  and  both  of 
them  trembled  with  apprehension  for  the  anticipated  tragedy 
now  apparently  inevitable. 

The  elder  of  the  two,  who  was  no  other  than  the  Methodist 
parson,  Carter,  implored  the  younger  ;  "  for  God's  sake,  dear 
brother  Baker,  do  speak  to  this  infatuated  people,  and  persuade 
them  to  act  as  rational  beings.  The  assassination  of  the  cap 
tives  would  ruin  us  irretrievably." 

11  Alas  1  what  can  I  do  ?"  said  the  other  in  a  sad  voice  ;  "  I 
am  unacquainted  with  the  multitude,  and  any  advice  from  me 
would  probably  be  considered  as  unpardonable  presumption.  A 
word,  the  faintest  breath  of  articulated  air  from  even  the  lips 
of  a  fool  can  raise  the  whirlwind  of  popular  excitement,  which 
the  wisest  statesman  in  the  world  cannot  stem. 

"  At  all  events,  it  is  your  duty,  as  a  Christian  minister,  to 


226  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OF  THE  TANAHA. 

warn  the  members  of  our  own  communion  against  the  consum 
mation  of  so  horrible  a  crime,"  urged  Carter,  warmly. 

"  That  is  undeniably  true,"  answered  the  stranger,  "  and  I 
will  not  shrink  from  the  dangerous  responsibility,  even  if  I 
should  sacrifice  my  life  on  the  sacred  altar  of  conscience.  The 
occasion  wilt  have  a  martyr,  and  it  might  as  well  be  me  as 
another ;  but  how  am  I  to  gain  a  hearing  ?" 

"I  will  show  you,"  replied  Carter,  and  he  immediately 
ascended  a  large  stump,  and  proclaimed  :  "  Fellow-citizens, 
Brother  Baker,  our  new  circuit-rider,  will  address  you."  He 
then  leapedidown,  and  the  travelling  preacher  took  his  place  on 
this  unique  platform,  consecrated  for  the  service  of  politics  by 
the  genius  of  demagogues. 

All  eyes  were  now  directed  towards  the  stranger,  whose 
striking  appearance  alone  rivetted  universal  attention.  He  was 
a  blooming,  fair-featured  young  man,  with  large  mystic  blue 
eyes,  a  smooth,  soaring  forehead,  and  a  countenance  of  deep 
thought,  and  ardent,  unaffected  devotion.  His  face  glowed 
with  rich  and  radiant  health,  and  his  noble  form,  at  once  large 
and  lofty,  yet  unencumbered  with  useless  flesh,  presented  the 
true  model  of  the  backwoods,  combining  the  strength  of  the 
mountain  bear,  with  the  swift  agility  of  the  panther. 

His  voice,  clear  as  a  bell,  yet  silvery  as  the  warbled  sighs  of 
a  heavenly  harp,  although  low  at  first,  indeed  little  more  than 
a  loud  whisper,  thrilled  through  the  vast  audience,  and  filled 
every  ear  and  brain  with  its  amazing  music. 

He  began  by  painting  the  terrible  condition  of  the  country, 
infested  by  felons,  and  on  the  verge  of  a  servile  insurrection  ; 


THE   TRIAL    BY   TORTURE.  227 

and  the  excitement  soon  became  so  alarming,  that  both  Carter 
and  Boiling  feared  the  precipitation  of  the  very  catastrophe 
which  he  had  undertaken  to  avert.  In  a  few  minutes,  however, 
after  he  had  gained  their  confidence,  and  brought  the  multitude 
under  the  mastery  of  his  mind,  he  suddenly  changed  his  theme, 
and  with  admirable  adroitness,  described  the  necessity  of  order 
and  union,  and  the  ruinous  consequences  of  rashness  and  blood 
shed,  until  prudence  prevailed  with  the  timid,  and  reason  over 
the  intelligent. 

But  unfortunately,  at  this  point  of  the  discourse,  the  tigers, 
of  the  human  menagerie,  grew  fearful  lest  they  might  lose  their 
expected  prey,  and  groans,  hisses,  and  horrible  threats  rent  the 
air,  drowning  for  a  brief  space,  the  voice  of  the  speaker.  A 
hundred  angry  tongues  cried  :  "  Take  him  down  I  Away  with 
the  canting  hypocrite  !  He  belongs,  himself,  to  the  rogues  I" 
and  fifty  other  exclamations,  too  coarse  for  repetition.  A  rush 
was  made  by  some  desperadoes  towards  the  preacher,  which  his 
friends  resisted  with  great  firmness,  and  there  seemed  to  be 
imminent  danger  of  a  general  melee. 

At  this  instant,  the  mystic  blue  eyes  flashed  lightning,  the 
face  of  the  young  circuit-rider  beamed  with  the  light,  which  burns 
on  the  visage  of  the  brave  in  the  hour  of  conflict,  as  he  exclaim 
ed  in  tones  that  sounded  above  the  tempest,  like  the  blast  of  a 
trumpet  ;  "  Let  the  murderers  alone  to  accomplish  their  work, 
my  brethren.  They  thirst,  like  wild  beasts  for  human  blood  I 
let  them  have  mine,  if  they  will.  I  would  rather  die  than  dis 
grace  my  holy  calling  !" 

The  might  of  his  words  and  the  majesty  of  his  manner,  awed 


228       BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

even  the  ruffians  themselves,  and  inspired  all  moderate  and  prudent 
persons  to  oppose  the  contemplated  massacre  of  the  prisoners. 
The  speaker  then  went  on  to  urge,  with  all  the  force  of  his  pow 
erful  eloquence,  the  necessity  of  giving  the  accused  an  impartial 
trial  before  the  committee. 

For  he  did  not  dare  assume  the  loftier  ground  of  leaving  the 
matter  for  adjudication  to  the  regular  tribunals  of  the  country. 
Such  a  mild  and  merciful  proposition  would  have  deprived  him 
of  all  influence,  and  would  have  prevented  any  good  that  he 
might  hope  to  effect,  even  with  the  members  of  his  own  denomi 
nation, 

He  finally  closed  with  a  magnificent  appeal,  a  perfect  sunburst 
of  fiery  words,  embodying  in  a  small  compass  the  whole  of  his 
previous  argument,  and  forcing  it  home  to  the  hearts  of  his  hear 
ers,  three-fourths  of  whom  determined  to  act  on  the  preacher's 
counsel,  some  from  conscientious  scruples,  others  from  humane 
emotions,  but  more  still,  from  a  cool  calculation  of  causes  and 
effects,  as  bearing  on  their  individual  interest,  and  the  ultimate 
success  of  the  mob,  in  their  triumph  over  the  robbers. 

Young  Boiling  was  amazed  at  the  stilling  of  the  foregoing 
storm  by  the  oratory  of  a  single  minister,  wonderful  as  he 
himself  confessed  and  felt  it  to  be.  And,  indeed,  no  stranger 
educated  in  more  civilized  lands,  without  beholding  it,  can  even 
imagine  the  influence  of  itinerant  preachers  in  the  woods  of  the 
West.  Following  closely  in  the  footsteps  of  the  pioneer,  their 
accents,  laden  with  the  celestial  tidings  of  mercy  and  peace,  may 
be  heard  ringing  in  the  leafy  depths  of  the  old  forest,  almost  with 
the  first  reverberating  echoes  of  the  axe  and  the  cow-bell 


THE   TRIAL   BY   TORTURE.  229 

Ignorant,  it  cannot  be  denied,  are  many  of  the  missionaries  of 
the  cross,  men  of  rude  appearance,  and  ruder  speech,  such  as 
would  grate  harshly  on  polished  ears.  But  their  souls  burn  with 
the  unquenchable  fire  of  sincerity,  and  their  fierce  eyes  often 
flash  with  the  wild  light  of  the  mighty  prophet  and  mystic  seer, 
who  in  ancient  days,  came  from  the  solitude  of  the  desert,  with 
divitfe  messages  for  man,  and  breathed  them  in  the  ear,  not  with 
tones  of  gentle  tenderness,  but  with  lips  of  quivering  fire,  and  in 
accents  terrible  as  thunder. 

And  such  truly  is  the  travelling  minister  of  the  backwoods. 
Unacquainted  with  science,  he  knows  the  more  of  nature  in  the 
concrete  ;  and  living  half  his  time  in  the  saddle,  alone,  without 
other  society  than  his  own  thoughts,  his  mind  acquires  all  the 
gloom  and  grandeur  of  the  primeval  forests,  and  borrows  an 
imagery  of  nameless  power  from  the  voice  of  the  elements,  and 
the  hues  of  the  sunshine,  and  shadows  of  the  stormy  cloud.  In 
nocent  of  literature,  he  learns  his  Bible  by  heart,  and  steeps  his 
soul  in  the  rich  melody  of  those  old  hymns,  which,  like  singing 
birds,  have  sailed  down  the  air  of  ages  from  the  dim  shores  of 
distant  centuries,  repeating  the  prayers  and  praises  of  ancient 
penitent  and  mystic  prophet.  He  does  not  corrupt  the  sacredj 
text  by  polite  circumlocution.  He  does  not  utter  the  word 
Heaven  in  a  dubious  whisper ;  nor  is  he  too  modest  to  name  hell, 
except  in  a  periphrasis.  His  earnestness  gives  him  an  irresisti 
ble  energy  ;  and  he  kindles  enthusiasm  among  the  people,  because 
he  hurls  at  them  his  own  heart  on  fire. 

Swimming  the  broad  river  at  high  flood,  wandering  in  the 
wild  forest  or  ocean-like  prairie,  without  a  guide,  lying  alone  at 


230       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OP  THE  TAN  AHA. 

midnight  on  the  greensward,  counting  the  stars,  and  dreaming 
of  the  spirit-shores  beyond  their  golden  sands,  while  the  hiss  of 
the  rattle-snake  and  the  wolf's  long  howl,  re-echo  in  his  ears,  in 
constant  peril  from  ferocious  beasts  and  more  savage  men,  such 
is  the  Methodist  Itinerant  of  the  far  frontier,  the  path-finder  in 

the  moral  desert,  the  wild  hunter  of  human  souls,  not  for  prey, 

* 

but  for  preservation  ;  and  such  was  Hiram  Baker. 

At  length,  the  great  mass  of  the  lynchers  made  their  way  to 
the  forest,  where  the  committee  of  twelve  had  opened  their  ses 
sion  ;  and  although  the  general  throng  of  members  had  been 
debarred  by  their  own  resolution,  adopted  when  they  first 
organized,  from  being  present  at  the  deliberations  of  the  council, 
nevertheless,  it  afforded  them  all  some  pleasure,  to  be  within 
view  of  the  scene,  although  they  might  not  hear  a  syllable  of  the 
discussions.  And  accordingly,  they  gathered  around  at  a  dis 
tance  in  the  woods,  and  gazed  intently  on  the  small  body  of  men, 
who  performed  in  their  own  persons,  the  double  office  of  both 
judge  and  jurors. 

A  few  individuals,  however,  as  a  matter  of  grace  on  the  part 
of  the  leaders,  were  permitted  to  witness  the  proceedings  as 
spectators,  and  among  these  happened  to  be  young  Boiling,  by 
the  favor  of  Major  Morrow,  who  now  seemed  more  anxious  than 
ever  to  secure  his  accession  to  their  band.  But  by  mistake,  he 
certainly  adopted  the  worst  possible  method  for  success  in  his 
purpose  ;  for  at  first  sight  the  youth  experienced  feelings  of  unut 
terable  disgust  for  most  of  the  committee,  and  their  sentiments 
soon  heightened  the  emotion  to  actual  horror. 

The  long,  lean,  superlatively  awkward  and  ugly  form  of  the 


THE   TRIAL   BY  TORTURE.  231 

Rev.  Benjamin  Parker  occupied  the  president's  chair,  and  his 
naturally  white  hair,  with  eyes  of  the  same  color,  and  sharp 
angular  features,  contrasted  ludicrously  with  the  tragical  dignity 
of  his  air,  and  the  affected  solemnity  of  his  voice  and  visage. 
He  spoke  in  accents  hollow  as  the  tones  of  a  drum,  to  the  des 
perado,  bristling  with  knives  and  revolvers,  who  acted  as  a  sort 
of  general  sheriff  to  the  court. 

. "  Pete  Whetstone,  bring  forward  the  prisoner,  Jonathan 
Hutson."  The  huge  red-faced  officer  hastened  to  obey,  and 
piercing  the  screen  of  an  adjacent  thicket,  soon  returned 
with  the  ex-clock-peddler  in  chains,  and  guarded  by  a  strong 
posse,  with  pistols  cocked  in  their  hands.  It  would  be  diffi 
cult  to  conceive  a  picture,  at  once,  so  pitiful  and  provoca 
tive  of  laughter,  as  that  which  the  Yankee  exhibited,  on  his 
appearance.  His  long  towy  hair,  clotted  with  blood,  hung  in 
tangles  around  his  crane-like  neck.  His  enormous  beaked  nose, 
and  vast  chin,  turned  up  like  a  hook,  seemed  on  the  point  of 
consummating  the  wedding,  which  both  had  attempted  in  vain 
for  so  many  years.  His  countenance  worked  nervously  with  fear, 
but  his  small,  brown,  bear-like  eyes  gleamed  with  a  look  of  cun 
ning,  as  if  he  had  already  thought  of  some  means  to  foil  his 
enemies. 

"  Jonathan  Hutson,"  said  the  president,  in  his  deep  sepulchral 
voice  ;  "  you  stand  charged  with  the  awful  crimes  of  robbery  and 
murder  !  What  say  you  to  the  accusation,  are  you  guilty  or 
not  guilty  ?  and  remember,  if  you  tell  a  falsehood,  you  shall  be 
instantly  hung  for  that  1" 

"  Who  says,  I  done  it  ?"  inquired  the  culprit,  endeavoring  to 


232       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

evade  the  edge  of  the  sharp  interrogatory,  and  raising  both  his 
fettered  hands  to  scratch  his  head. 

"  All  of  us  say,  that  you  did  it,"  replied  the  president  sternly. 

"  That's  a  mighty  heap  of  witnesses,"  answered  Jonathan, 
forcing  a  dry  laugh,  determined  to  try  the  dodge  of  simplicity, 
and  affect  the  fool,  as  far  as  possible,  without  carrying  it  to 
such  an  extreme,  as  might  lead  to  detection.  This  plan  in  itself 
was  both  difficult  and  dangerous,  requiring  the  utmost  coolness 
and  skill  ;  but  at  the  moment  he  could  imagine  no  better,  and 
therefore,  had  to  risk  it. 

"  Mr.  Hutson,  I  advise  you  not  to  trifle  with  your  life," 
admonished  Parker,  with  an  awful  frown  ;  "answer  the  question 
propounded  by  the  court  ?w 

"  Whur,  mout  be  the  court  ?"  asked  Jonathan  with  a  wry 
face  ;  "  I  don't  know  of  any  court  hereabouts,  but  Judge  Moore  ; 
and  you've  got  him  back  thar  in  the  brush,  in  limbo  ;  and  him 
didn't  ax  me  'nuthin  at  all  at  all." 

"  We  are  the  court,"  proclaimed  the  president,  with  an  air  of 
infinite  authority. 

"  La  !  what  a  pile  of  judges,  you  hev  in  this  court  I"  exclaim 
ed  the  accused,  with  a  countenance  of  well-feigned  folly  and 
amazement. 

"  Respond  to  the  interrogation,  or  you  shall  be  hanged,  this 
minute  ;"  cried  Parker,  as  his  white  eyes  reddened  with  wrath. 

1 '  You  say,  they  charge  me  with  robbery  and  murder,  how  do 
I  know  whether  to  plead  guilty  or  not,  unless  you  tell  me  what 
feller  they  'cuse  me  of  killin7  ?"  suggested  the  ex-peddler,  with  a 
blank  look  of  innocence. 


THE  TRIAL   BY   TORTURE.  233 

"  It  is  alleged,  and  believed,  that  you,  and  several  others, 
murdered  the  family  of  Brother  Marks,  and  after  plundering  the 
house,  set  it  on  fire,  and  thus  consumed  the  dead  bodies," 
affirmed  the  president ;  "  did  you  do  it  or  not  ?" 

"  I  swear,"  commenced  Jonathan,  with  an  incipient  negation, 
when  Parker  suddenly  interrupted  the  sentence,  with  an  awful 
threat  and  an  artful  hint,  which  cut  it  off  for  ever,  by  changing 
the  shrewd  Yankee's  tactics. 

11  Do  not  utter  a  falsehood,"  shouted  the  hoarse  president  ; 
"  we  have  the  proof  of  your  guilt,  and  if  you  dare  deny  it,  you 
will  not  live  sixty  seconds.77  Then  turning  to  the  sheriff,  he 
ordered  ;  "be  quick,  Pete,  get  the  rope  ;  for  I  am  certain  the 
prisoner  is  going  to  lie  ?" 

"  Pve  got  the  fixins  here  ready,"  answered  Whetstone,  pro 
ducing  from  his  ample  pocket,  a  huge  hempen  coil,  and  making 
a  motion  to  fasten  one  end  around  the  Yankee's  neck. 

"  Oh  !  don't,  for  mercy's  sake,  don7t  ?"  cried  Jonathan,  shrink 
ing  back  from  the  proffered  noose  ;  and  then  he  asked  in  a 
piteous  voice,  "  suppose,  I  confess,  what  then  ?" 

"  We  will  hang  you  for  the  crime,77  responded  the  president. 

"  Then,  if  I7m  to  be  hung  for  sayin7  no,  or  hung  for  sayin'  yes, 
it  don't  seem  a  devil's  bit  of  difference  which  I  say,77  remarked 
the  peddler,  with  a  lurid  look. 

Lawyer  Rider,  now,  whispered  earnestly  in  Parker's  ear,  and 
the  latter  again  addressed  the  accused  : 

"  Mr.  Hutson,  if  you  will  disclose  all  the  facts,  without 
disguise  or  equivocation,  you  shall  be  pardoned." 

"  Well  then,  I  acknowledge  the  corn,  I  did  it  ;77  said  Jona- 


234       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

than,  and  the  gleam  in  his  small  brown  eyes  made  them  resemblo 
those  of  a  bear  more  than  ever. 

"  Who  were  your  accomplices  ?" 

"  Bill  Bolls,  and  Tom  Tennison,"  responded  the  peddler 
promptly,  naming  two  supposititious  gentlemen,  that  neither 
himself,  nor  any  one  present,  had  ever  heard  of. 

"  Where  were  they  from  ?" 

Jonathan  affirmed  truly,  this  time  ;  "  I  never  heard  them  say." 

"  Where  are  they  now  ?" 

"  They  went  away,  that  night,  and  I've  not  sqninted  my 
peepers  on  them  since." 

"  You  lie  I"  vociferated  the  enraged  president. 

"You  lie  !"  echoed  Lawyer  Rider  ;  "tell  truly,  who  were  your 
associates  in  guilt,  if  you  would  not  be  swung  up  in  a  twinkling." 

Jonathan  turned  towards  the  officious  attorney,  and  at  the 
recognition,  exclaimed  in  tones  of  surprise  ;  "  Ha  !  consarn  it ! 
as  I'm  alive,  thar's  my  old  partner  in  the  clock  business,  what 
run  off  with  the  hull  doings,  capital,  profits  and  all,  in  Carolina  ?" 

A  titter  followed  the  announcement  ;  but  the  learned  counsel 
lor,  although  he  lost  every  tinge  of  color  on  the  yellow  parch 
ment  of  his  complexion,  while  his  keen  black  eyes  quivered,  like 
wavering  points  of  flame,  nevertheless  bore  up  bravely,  protest 
ing  loudly  ;  "  It  is  false  ;  I  never  saw  the  rogue  before." 

"  Never,  mind  ;  let  us  proceed  with  the  regular  investigation," 
interposed  the  president  with  dignity,  and  frowning  severely  at 
the  Yankee,  he  continued  ;  "  now,  sir,  is  your  last  chance  to 
speak  the  truth,  or  die  ;  for  we  know,  that  one  of  your  confeder« 
ates  is  named  Curran." 


THE   TRIAL    BY  TORTURE.  235 

Jonathan  opened  his  eyes  in  silent  wonder. 

"Pete,"  commanded  Parker,  "bring  Uncle  Buck,  and  con 
front  him  with  the  prisoner." 

The  sheriff  took  another  brief  excursion  into  the  thicket,  and 
brought  forward  the  white-headed  president  of  the  former  Negro 
mass  meeting,  at  the  unexpected  sight  of  whom,  the  Yankee 
shook  till  every  bone  in  his  body  seemed  to  rattle  with  uncon 
trollable  fright. 

"  Uncle  Buck,"  said  the  chairman,  "  did  you  ever  see  this 
man  before  ?"  » 

"  Sartan,  rnassa,"  responded  the  African  with  the  grin  of  an 
ape. 

"Where?" 

"Tudder  night,  when  he  preach  bobolitioa  to  heaps  ob 
niggers  in  de  swamp,  and  promise  'em  to  send  arter  thur  wives 
and  chillen,  a  big  steam-injun,  like  a  hoss,  what  snorted 
thunder." 

"  Who  was  with  him  ?" 

"  A  feller,  what  'em  called  Curran." 

"There,  you  may  go  now,  for  the  present,  Uncle  Buck," 
remarked  Parker,  and  then  scowling  at  the  Yankee,  he  thun 
dered  ;  "  you  perceive  that  we  have  evidence  as  to  your  accom 
plices,  and  that  you  have  lied  to  us  wilfully  ;  and  for  this  you 
must  now  die  !  Swing  him  up,  boys,  immediately." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  assented  Whetstone,  and  half-a-dozen  powerful 
hands  seized  the  trembling  wretch,  tied  one  end  of  the  cord 
around  his  throat,  and  threw  the  other  over  a  low  but  strong 
limb.  He  struggled,  like  a  wolf  in  the  toils,  writhed  as  a  scor* 


236  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

pion  in  the  fire,  and  uttered  the  most  mournful  cries,  and 
beseeching  prayers,  ever  articulated  by  a  human  voice  ;  but  all 
in  vain.  His  merciless  executioners  pulled  away  at  the  loose 
end  of  the  rope,  until  he  dangled,  six  feet  in  the  air  !  Even  then, 
his  agony  did  not  cease.  He  still  essayed  to  implore  pity, 
twisting  his  purple  lips  in  hideous  contortions  ;  but  the  breath 
gurgled  in  his  windpipe,  and  produced  no  external  sound. 
Directly  his  features  grew  black  as  those  of  a  Negro,  and  his 
bloodshot  eyes  rolled  wildly  in  their  sockets,  and  the  last  spark 
of  that  strange  mysterious  fire — life,  was  about  to  die  out  for 
ever,  when  the  president  ordered  : 

"  Let  him  down,  and  if  he  is  not  dead,  he  will  now  disclose 
everything." 

When  Jonathan  again  touched  the  earth,  he  lay  limber  as  a 
rag,  without  the  least  signs  of  life  or  motion  ;  and  young  Boiling 
concluded  that  all  was  indeed  over.  But  the  more  humane 
among  the  lynchers  busied  themselves  for  his  restoration,  chafing 
his  hands  and  temples,  and  bathing  his  face  copiously  with  cold 
water  until,  at  length,  he  revived. 

As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  sit  upon  the  ground,  President 
Parker  addressed  him  with  greater  severity  than  ever  : 

"  Jonathan  Hutson  you  have  been,  a  minute  ago,  on  the 
crumbling  brink  of  hell,  from  which  our  kindness  has  snatched 
you,  and  if  it  is  not  your  wish  to  visit  the  infernal  regions 
instantly,  you  have  one  final  chance  to  escape  the  doom,  which 
you  so  surely  merit." 

"I  will  tell  all — everything,  that  you  can  ask,"  gasped  the 
shuddering  wretch,  more  dead  than  alive,  from  the  effects  of  fear. 


THE  TRIAL   BY  TORTURE.  237 

"  Who  assisted  you  in  the  murder  of  Brother  Marks  and  his 
family  ?" 

"  Lieutenant  Curran." 

"  Was  not  Captain  Carlyle  the  leader  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Were  not  Sol  Tuttle,  Judge  Moore,  Colonel  Miles,  and  the 
two  Bartons  with  you  ?" 

11  Yes." 

"  Give  us  the  particulars." 

Jonathan  pretended  conformity  to  the  mandate,  and  detailed 
all  the  facts  with  surprising  speciality,  considering  that  the 
whole  was  a  pure  fabrication  ;  for  he  knew  nothing  about  either 
the  murder,  or  its  perpetrators,  and  was  forced  to  the  confession 
of  the  monstrous  falsehood,  by  the  cruel  alternative  of  immediate 
death. 

"  What  members  belong  to  the  black  band  of  robbers?"  inter 
rogated  the  president. 

"The  Yankee  enumerated  all  that  he  could  remember. 

"Do  not  Judge  Moore,  the  two  young  Bartons  and  Sol 
Tuttle  also  act  with  them  ?" 

"  Jonathan  scrutinized  the  stern  countenance  of  Parker,  and 
reading  there,  the  necessity  of  an  affirmative  response,  gave  it 
promptly. 

"  "VJThere  do  the  bandits  keep  their  stolen  Negroes  ?" 

"  In  the  big  swamp  betwixt  the  Sabine  and  Red  River." 

"  How  many  fighting  men  can  they  muster  ?" 

"  If  they  hfive  a  week's  time,  five  hundred." 

"  How  many  in  a  single  day  ?" 


2d8       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

11 A  little  more  than  half  the  number." 

"  At  this  answer,  a  murmur  of  astonishment,  not  unmixed 
with  alarm,  arose  from  all  present  ;  and  after  it  became  hushed, 
Parker  went  on  with  his  examination  : 

"  How  many  slaves  have  the  robbers  now  in  their  posses 
sion  ?» 

"If  you  reckon  all  in  Texas  and  Arkansas,  more  than  a 
thousand." 

Here,  the  president  directed  Pete  Whetstone  to  conduct 
Hutson  back  to  the  company  of  his  fellow  prisoners,  and  to 
guard  him  with  the  same  care  as  previously.  After  he  was  gone 
a  stormy  debate  occurred,  as  to  what  should  be  done  next. 
Major  Morrow  proposed,  that  their  principal  force  should  march 
forthwith,  and  make  a  grand  assault  upon  Carlyle's  block  house, 
before  the  numerous  auxiliaries  of  the  band  should  have  time  to 
gather.  The  same  view  was  urged  by  the  chairman,  and  by 
Parson  Dodson,  but  Carter  and  Lawyer  Rider  objected  to  it  as 
amounting  almost  to  madness.  Preacher  Johnson  spoke  on  this 
side  also,  and  upon  the  motion  being  put  it  was  negatived 
by  a  majority  of  two  votes. 

The  next  subject  of  discussion  related  to  the  method  of  pro 
ceeding  with  their  other  captives.  Major  Morrow  insisted  with 
his  customary  cruel  barbarity,  that  they  should  be  whipped, 
hung,  burned,  drowned,  and  frightened  into  written  confessions 
of  their  guilt,  and  that  these  might  then  be  published  in  the 
newspapers,  for  a  complete  justification  of  their  execution  before 
the  world  ;  and  this  plan  received  the  warm  support  of  both  the 
president  and  the  Millenarian  minister,  Dodson  ;  while  Parsons 


THE   TRIA   LBY   TORTURE.  239 

Carter  and  Johnson  opposed  it  with  all  the  energy  and  eloquence 
of  humane  and  honest  natures. 

They  also  found  an  unexpected  ally  in  the  new  itinerant, 
Baker,  who  had  listened  with  silent  horror  to  the  infamous  pro 
position  and  the  shameless  arguments  by  which  it  had  been  sus 
tained.  But  all  his  burning  words  and  pathetic  periods  proved 
utterly  unavailing  to  avert  the  calamity.  The  savage  sentiment 
of  self-interest  was  too  strong,  and  the  hope  of  public  exculpation 
looked  too  pleasing,  for  moral  considerations  or  feelings  of 
mercy  to  weigh  heavily  with  the  majority  of  the  committee. 
And  so  the  motion  prevailed,  by  four  suffrages. 

Of  all  the  bloody  terrors,  which  attend  the  reign  of  lynch-law, 
the  method  of  seeking  evidence  by  torture,  is  at  once,  the  most 
universal  and  revolting.  I  have  witnessed  many  cases  of  the  kind 
on  the  far  frontier,  from  Missouri  to  Texas,  but  never  a  single 
one  without  this  unfailing  feature.  It  seems,  indeed,  to  be  a  nat 
ural  and  necessary  incident  to  all  such  organizations,  to  extract 
proofs  from  the  quiverings  of  naked  nerves,  the  faint  moans  of 
agony,  the  horrible  whispers  of  gasping  breath,  the  mortal  pallor 
of  death-like  faces,  and  the  signatures  of  burning  or  bleeding 
hands  !  And  even  when  the  doubtful  testimony  has  been 
obtained,  when  the  fatal  execution  of  the  real  or  imaginary 
culprit  is  to  be  consummated,  it  is  not  performed  as  an  act  of 
public  justice,  but  enjoyed  as  an  infernal  feast  of  private  revenge 
— a  mob-murder,  ten  thousand  times  more  loathsome  than  mid 
night  assassination  ! 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

THE   TRIAL AN    EXECUTION. 

THE  committee  of  regulators  also  determined  on  another  rule 
of  examination,  which,  although  it  did  not  by  any  means  forward 
their  general  object,  nevertheless  tended  to  render  their  proceed 
ings  intensely  and  painfully  dramatic  They  resolved  to  question 
all  the  prisoners  together,  in  the  presence  of  each  other,  hoping, 
perhaps,  that  the  terrors  of  the  more  timid,  would  operate  to 
shake  the  firmness  of  the  bravest,  so  that  all,  if  possible,  might 
be  induced  to  sign  a  common  confession.  And  accordingly  the 
president  ordered  the  sheriff,  and  his  well-weaponed  posse,  to 
bring  forward,  at  once,  the  whole  body  of  captives. 

When  the  desperadoes,  acting  under  this  imperative  mandate, 
presented  the  different  persons  accused  before  the  council,  a 
more  striking  contrast  in  physical  appearance,  countenance  and 
demeanor,  was  probably  never  before  witnessed,  and  could  not 
fully  be  imagined.  Every  deep  feeling  of  the  heart,  every  fierce 
emotion  of  the  mind,  seemed  unmasked,  in  all  the  vividness  and 
force  of  undisguised  naked  nature.  Every  prisoner  revealed 
in  the  lines  of  his  face,  in  his  voice,  air,  and  attitude,  the  true 

240 


THE   TRIAL— AN    EXECUTION.  241 

stuff  within  him.  The  young  brothers,  John  and  William  Bar 
ton,  showed  all  the  effects  of  craven  fear,  their  slender  forms 
quivering,  like  two  reeds  in  a  strong  wind,  their  complexions 
being  literally  white  as  the  snowy  linen  of  their  own  shirts,  and 
their  light  blue  eyes  shrinking  from  the  stern  gaze  of  their  piti 
less  judges.  Both  were  dressed  in  costly  suits  of  black  cloth, 
with  hats  of  the  same  tint,  brushed  smooth  as  the  surface  of  new 
velvet,  and  they  wore  massive  gold  watch-chains,  and  rich  rings 
sparkled  in  the  sunlight  on  their  fingers.  But  these  ornaments, 
arid  the  fashionable  character  of  their  clothing,  only  rendered 
the  terror  depicted  on  their  visages,  the  more  painfully  impres 
sive. 

Nevertheless,  these  lovers,  who  had  expected  to  lead  their 
beloved  brides  to  the  altar,  on  the  evening  of  that  dreadful  day, 
in  this,  their  distressing  and  dangerous  situation,  received  the 
most  convincing  evidence  to  prove  the  wisdom  of  their  choice. 
For  the  two  young  girls,  Eliza  and  Alice  Ewing,  with  their 
widowed  mother,  had  followed  their  hearts'  favorites  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  lynchers,  and  now  stood  bravely  by  their 
sides,  as  well  for  witnessess  as  comforters.  Indeed,  they  mani 
fested  much  higher  courage  than  their  suitors  ;  for  although 
their  fair- and  comely  cheeks  had  lost  some  of  their  radiant  rose- 
hues,  their  full,  round  figures  did  not  tremble,  and  their  dark 
blue  eyes  shone  with  the  light  of  tenderest,  truest  love,  but 
mingled  with  the  fiercer  fire  of  indignation. 

The  uncle  of  the  Bartons,  Judge  Moore,  seemed  the  living 
personification  of  stern,  uncompromising,  but  insulted  dignity 
and  virtue.  His  scrupulously  precise  black  dress,  entirely  desti- 

11 


242        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

tute  of  ornaments,  his  high,  prominent  forehead,  and  large,  bald 
head,  his  severe  haughty  cast  of  countenance,  and  those  proud, 
penetrating  eyes,  contrasted  with  the  coarse  vulgar  crowd  of 
regulators  around  him,  made  him  look  like  a  king  among  clowns, 
an  eagle  environed  by  a  flock  of  vultures,  a  lion  in  the  presence 
of  hideous  wolves  or  jackals. 

Neither  was  he  unattended  by  affection  as  profound  and 
ardent  as  any  passionate  love  that  ever  beat  in  the  human 
bosom.  For,  notwithstanding  his  threats,  entreaties,  and  even 
commands,  his  beautiful  daughter,  the  gifted  and  accomplished 
Jenny,  had  left  the  funeral  of  her  murdered  twin-brother,  to  share 
the  imprisonment,  and  if  practicable,  to  avert  the  fate  of  her  adored 
parent.  Her  features  had  lost  every  tinge  of  her  usually  rich 
color,  as  if  formed  from  a  marvellous  mixture  of  vermilion  and 
unsunned  snow,  and  now  the  latter  hue  predominated,  till  she 
appeared  pale  as  a  corpse.  With  her  peerless  blue  eyes,  so 
large,  deep,  and  dream-like,  shining  through  a  shower  of  tears, 
and  her  exquisite  head,  sunned  all  over  with  bright  golden  curls, 
and  bowed  down  towards  her  breast,  in  those  sable  robes  of 
mourning,  she  might  have  been  mistaken  by  a  stranger  for 
some  beautiful  statue  of  immortal  grief. 

Bob  Taylor,  one  of  the  real  bandits,  offered  to  the  view  a 
very  different  aspect.  His  great,  gigantic  form,  and  coarse, 
florid  features,  his  small  twinkling  eyes  of  reddish  grey,  his 
tiger-like  countenance,  and  even  the  tangles  of  his  fiery  hair,  all 
expressed  savage  ferocity,  and  reckless  daring.  One  of  his 
enormous  arms  had  been  broken  by  a  rifle  bullet,  in  the  conflict, 
which  effected  his  capture.  The  wounded  limb  bound  up  by  a 


THE  TRIAL — AN   EXECUTION.  243 

common  cotton  handkerchief,  and  hanging  loosely  by  his  side, 
must  have  given  him  excruciating  pain,  but  he  betrayed  no  indica 
tion  of  the  fact,  by  external  tokens. 

The  picture  of  Sol  Tuttle,  may  be  sketched  in  few  words. 
His  entire  countenance  evinced  the  firmness  of  the  genuine 
hero  overtaken  by  adverse  fortune  ;  but  unsubdued,  and  still 
defiant.  It  was  the  sublime  stoicism  of  the  Indian  warrior, 
without  sign  of  anger  or  fear.  Only  his  dark  eyes  had  been 
shorn  of  their  merry  twinkle,  which  was  replaced  by  a  nameless, 
gleaming  fire,  that  seemed  to  pierce  the  beholder  through,  as 
with  red-hot  arrows  of  lightning. 

A  considerable  change,  however,  had  come  over  the  hunter's 
brave-hearted  boy.  His  bright  black  eyes  were  dim  from 
recent  weeping,  and  all  his  features  betrayed  anxiety  and  sorrow. 
The  feelings  of  the  child  had  resumed  their  sway  over  his  mind, 
and  sad  memories  of  mother,  sisters,  and  the  beautiful  babe  in 
its  cradle,  flitted  before  the  eye  of  his  young  imagination, 
mingled  with  pale  spectres,  the  fear-fancies  of  the  coming  doom. 

"  Prisoners,"  said  the  president,  clothing  his  voice  in  its  most 
ghostly  accents  ;  "  one,  and  all,  ye  stand  here  charged  before 
this  honorable  court,  with  the  crime  of  wilful  murder,  in  fact, 
with  the  assassination  of  our  dear  brother  Marks  and  his 
family  !  We  have  full  proof  of  your  guilt,  and  if  ye  add  to 
yonr  enormous  crime,  the  sin  of  falsehood  by  a  denial,  ye  shall 
be  hung  outright  !  What  say  ye  ?  are  ye  guilty,  or  not  ?" 

The  females  uttered  half-suppressed  cries  of  horror,  at  this 
appalling  announcement,  but  none  of  the  men  responded,  by  a 
word.  The  two  Bartons  reeled,  as  if  about  to  fall,  and  the  boy 


244       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

burst  into  tears  ;  but  Bob  Taylor  scowled  like  a  devil,  Sol  Tut- 
tle  pierced  the  chairman's  soul  with  his  keen  dagger-eyes,  and 
Judge  Moore  cast  upon  him  a  look  of  lofty  disdain. 

"  I  move  that  the  question  be  propounded  to  each  criminal 
separately,"  interposed  Parson  Dodson. 

"  I  second  the  motion,"  added  Lawyer  Rider,  and  the  propo 
sition  being  put  to  the  committee,  became  a  law. 

"  Bob  Taylor/'  demanded  President  Parker  ;  "  are  you  guilty, 
or  not  guilty  ?" 

"  Go  to  the  devil,  yer  daddy,  and  ax  him,  y'  ugly  cuss  of  an 
old  he-wolf,"  shouted  the  gigantic  robber,  shaking  the  fettered 
fist  of  his  sound  arm  at  the  chairman,  with  the  aspect  of  a 
wounded  tiger,  ready  to  spring  upon  its  prey. 

"  Answer  the  question,  or  be  hung  in  half  a  minute  I" 
exclaimed  Parker,  in  a  still  more  awful  voice. 

"  If  I  had  you  by  yerself  in  the  bushes,  I'd  poke  the  answer 
into  yer  cowardly  gizzard,  fur  you've  no  more  heart  nor  a  gan 
der,"  replied  Bob  Taylor,  grinding  his  teeth. 

"  No  more  ;  swing  him  up,  boys  !"  said  the  president,  lurid  in 
the  face  with  a  passion  that  rivalled  that  of  the  desperado. 

And  the  order  was  instantly  obeyed.  Pete  Whetstone  and 
his  official  assistants,  fastened  the  fatal  noose  around  the  bandit's 
neck,  and  hoisted  him  aloft  in  the  air.  Young  Boiling  listened 
in  vain  for  the  mandate  to  let  him  down,  as  in  the  case  of  Jona 
than  Hutson.  In  a  short  time,  the  limbs  of  the  culprit  ceased 
to  quiver,  and  he  hung  a  hideous  corpse  in  the  sunlight,  which, 
gleaming  through  intervals  in  the  emerald  foliage  above  his 
head,  gave  his  fiery  red  hair  the  appearance  of  burning  gold. 


THE   TRIAL — AN    EXECUTION.  245 

1 '  Tie  the  rope  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  and  let  the  body 
remain  as  it  is,  for  a  warning  to  his  wicked  accomplices  1" 
directed  President  Parker — which  was  done.  And  so  this  fright 
ful  vision  of  the  loathsome  dead,  was  fixed  there,  dangling  in 
the  air,  during  all  the  subsequent  investigation. 

The  chairman  next  addressed  the  elder  nephew  of  Judge 
Moore  :  "  John  Barton,  are  you  guilty,  or  not  guilty  ?" 

"  I  swear  before  that  God,  who  made  me,  that  I  am  innocent 
of  the  charge,"  answered  the  youth,  in  a  tolerably  firm  tone,  but 
pallid  as  that  ghostly  corpse,  which  grinned  like  a  skeleton,  above 
his  head. 

li  I  move  that  this  one  be  drowned  ;"  exclaimed  Major  Mor 
row,  and  his  cruel  grey  eyes  glittered  like  those  of  a  wild  cat. 

"  I  second  the  motion,"  said  the  Millenarian  preacher  Dod- 
son,  and  the  resolution  prevailed. 

The  signal  being  given,  Pete  Whetstone  and  his  posse  seized  the 
prisoner,  in  spite  of  his  wild  cries  and  entreaties,  tore  him  from  the 
arms  of  his  promised  bride,  and  bearing  him  into  the  adjacent 
lake,  held  his  face  under  water,  until  he  ceased  to  breathe  or 
struggle.  Under  the  direction  of  the  president,  they  then 
brought  him  out,  and  after  some  time,  succeeded  in  his  resusci 
tation. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  delineate  the  grief  and  terror  of  the 
females,  while  this  savage  torture  was  being  consummated  ;  the 
deepest,  and  most  unendurable  woes,  as  well  as  the  radiant  rap- 
tures'of  the  highest  joy,  have  no  adequate  terms  for  their  utter 
ance,  and  must,  therefore,  be  left  entirely  to  the  imagination. 
Indeed,  such  was  the  emotion  of  the  fair  Eliza  Ewing,  that  when 


246  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

they  plunged  her  lover  in  the  lake,  she  would  have  thrown  her 
self  into  the  water  to  drown  with  him,  had  she  not  been  forcibly 
restrained  by  some  of  the  lynchers  themselves. 

To  prevent  the  embarrassment  caused  by  the  acts  and  feelings 
of  these  feminine  spectators,  Attorney  Rider  proposed  that  they 
should  be  removed  ;  but  the  instant,  when  he  presented  the  sug 
gestion,  all  the  three  young  girls  cast  themselves  at  the  feet  of 
the  frowning  president,  imploring  with  tears  of  unutterable 
anguish  : 

"  Oh  !  for  pity's  sake,  let  us  stay,  and  we  will  not  speak  or 
move  again  1" 

For  such  is  often  one  of  the  strangest  mysteries  of  the  human 
heart.  It  can  endure  to  behold  its  most  beloved  ones  suffer  the 
keenest  pangs  of  torture — hang,  drown,  burn,  and  die,  while  every 
pain  is  repeated  with  equal  agony  in  its  own  shuddering  core, 
rather  than  feel  the  wilder,  the  utter  despair,  of  absence  and 
separation  ! 

The  prayers  of  the  females  were  granted,  under  a  stern  admo 
nition  from  the  chair,  that  if  they  articulated  another  syllable, 
or  interfered  any  further  with  the  regularity  of  the  proceedings, 
they  should  be  immediately  expelled  by  violence. 

"  John  Barton,"  said  Parker  to  the  pallid,  half-drowned 
youth  ;  we  have  seen  proper,  in  mercy  to  offer  you  one  more 
opportunity  to  tell  the  truth,  and  if  you  do  so,  we  may  spare 
your  life. 

"  Are  you  guilty  ?" 

An  awful  tremor  shook  the  young  man's  bosom,  as  he 
^-responded  in  faint,  almost  inaudible  accents  : 


THE  TRIAL — AN   EXECUTION.  247 

"  Yes." 

"  Were  not  your  brother  William,  Judge  Moore,  Captain 
Carlyle,  Lieutenant  Curran,  and  Sol  Tuttle,  your  associates  in 
the  criminal  deed  1" 

Barton  wrung  his  hands  in  mournful  silence. 

"  Do  you  see  that  ?"  interrogated  the  president,  pointing  his 
long  bony  finger  at  the  corpse  blackening,  overhead,  in  the  sun 
beams  ;  "  reply  to  my  question  instantly,  or  you  shall  take  your 
place  by  its  side  1" 

"The  youth  gasped  a  hissing  whisper,  which  the  chairman 
interpreted  as  a  "  Yes." 

"  Now  be  quick,  sign  this  paper,"  commanded  Parker,  and  he 
handed  the  other  a  written  confession,  and  a  pen  filled  with  ink, 
from  a  horn  bottle  in  his  pocket. 

Barton  attempted  vainly  to  read  the  document,  for  a  cloud  of 
mingled  blood  and  fire  wavered  before  his  eyes,  and  his  fingers 
trembled,  like  the  flame  of  a  candle  in  the  wind,  and  shook  the 
sheet  till  it  fairly  rattled. 

"  Sign  it  1"  thundered  the  president.  . 

The  young  man  tottered  to  a  fallen  pine  tree,  and  scrawled 
his  name,  in  a  hand,  that  told  its  own  tale  of  unutterable  horrors. 

"  William  Barton,  are  you  not  also  guilty  ?"  inquired  Parker, 
turning  to  the  younger  brother. 

Sol  Tuttle  interposed  ;  "  Don't  you  let  nobody  hev  any  wit 
nesses  it  this  kangaroo  court  ?" 

"  Take  that  for  your  insolence,"  shouted  Major  Morrow,  as 
he  slapped  the  hunter's  face.  The  latter  colored  deeply  with 
shame  and  indignation  ;  but  replied  calmly  : 


248  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

"  If  my  hands  wur  not  chained,  you  would  sooner  attack  an 
old  he-bar  with  yer  naked  fists  nor  me.  Howsumever,  that's 
allers  the  way  with  cowards  ;  they  fight  them  whart  can't  duffend 
thurselves,  and  fly  frum  a  rooster,  onless  his  spurs  hev  been  cut 
off." 

Judge  Moore  now  spoke  for  the  first  time,  in  his  usual  severe 
voice,  but  with  a  contemptuous  smile  : 

"  I  beg  leave  to  suggest,  as  amicus  curia,  that  Mr.  Tuttle  is 
correct  in  the  legal  point,  which  he  has  just  presented  to  the 
consideration  of  this  august  tribunal.  For  in  all  courts  of  what 
ever  name  or  grade,  civilized  or  savage,  parties  are  allowed  to 
offer  their  proofs,  if  they  choose,  and  no  one  is  ever  condemned 
without  a  hearing.  What  says  prosecuting  Attorney  Rider  to 
this  view  of  the  case  ?" 

"  The  remark  is  perfectly  true,"  assented  the  Shelbyville  law 
yer  ;  "  all  judgments  should  be  secundum  allegata  et  probata,  and 
I  move,  that  we  now  adopt  the  rule,  if  I  can  get  a  second." 

"I  second  the  motion,"  exclaimed  parson  Carter  eagerly  ;  and 
a  wrathful  debate  followed.  Preacher  Johnson  also  defended 
the  mild  and  merciful  proposition,  and  the  young  itinerant, 
Hiram  Baker,  literally  thundered,  with  all  his  eloquence,  on  the 
same  side.  But  the  measure  was  opposed  with  ferocious  energy 
by  President  Parker,  Major  Morrow,  and  his  brother-in-law 
Minton,  as  well  as  by  the  Millenarian  prophet. 

Upon  the  vote  being  taken,  the  committee  stood  equally 
divided,  and  the  members  seemed  on  the  verge  of  resorting  for  a 
decision  to  blows,  when  Pete  Whetstone  suggested  a  compro 
mise  : 


THE   TRIAL — AN    EXECUTION.  249 

"  Jist  go  on,  and  try  the  cussed  critters  in  the  old  way  fust, 
and  then  let  'em  hev  thur  own  witnesses  arterwards  ;  aud  if  you 
don't  do  it,  I'll  tell  the  boys  what  yere  about,  and  they'll  shoot 
all  the  tarnal  rascals,  like  hogs  ?" 

The  brutal  menace  produced  its  effect,  and  in  order  to  prevent 
a  worse  catastrophe,  the  more  humane  regulators  modified  their 
proposition  accordingly,  hoping  in  the  end  to  attain  their  object, 
when  the  torture  being  over,  the  prisoners  should  be  permitted 
to  introduce  their  evidence  in  defence,  although  this  method 
would  exhibit  the  singular  anomaly  of  allowing  the  plea  of  guilty 
to  be  subsequently  controverted  by  the  accused.  Nevertheless, 
they  might  solace  themselves  with  the  reflection,  that  the  whole 
trial,  from  beginning  to  end,  was  a  monstrous  mockery  of  all 
law,  justice,  and  even  common  humanity  ! 

Order  being  restored,  the  white-eyed  president  again  interro 
gated  : 

"  William  Barton,  are  you  guilty,  or  not  ?" 

"  Say  yes,"  whispered  Alice  Ewing,  in  his  ear  ;  "it  may  save 
your  life." 

"  I  am  guilty  ;"  faltered  the  youth,  with  pale  lips. 

"  Has  your  brother  given  truly  the  list  of  your  accomplices  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"Then  sign  this  paper,  as  your  free  and  voluntary  confes 
sion,"  commanded  Parker. 

Barton  took  the  lying  document,  and  inscribed  his  name,  with 
more  firmness,  than  had  been  evinced  by  the  other,  as  he  had 
not  passed  through  the  same  appalling  scene  of  fear  and  physical 
suffering. 

11* 


250       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

Parker,  now  turned  to  Sol  Tattle,  with  a  more  awful  counte 
nance  than  he  had  yet  assumed,  as  if  he  anticipated  a  more 
stubborn  resistance,  proclaiming  : 

"  Sir,  you  have  heard  the  charge,  and  have  witnessed  the 
acknowledgment  of  your  guilty  confederates,  what  say  you, 
guilty  or  not  guilty  ?" 

"  You  know  as  well  as  me,  that  Fm  a  darned  sight  more  inno 
cent  than  you,  you  infarnal,  white-eyed,  hooked-nosed,  tow- 
headed,  spindle-shanked,  hang-dog  old  bag  of  bones.  There 
ain't  enough  of  meat  on  yer  carkiss  to  feed  a  sick  buzzard,  nor 
true  grit  enough  in  yer  cowardly  heart  to  make  fight  at  a  lame 
gander.  If  my  hands  wur  ontied,  I'd  whup  the  whole  on 
ye!" 

"  I  move  that  we  burn  him  !"  exclaimed  Major  Morrow,  and 
every  freckle  on  his  face  seemed  transformed  into  a  flake  of  fire, 
in  the  heat  of  his  terrible  wrath ;  and  his  cunning,  cruel  grey 
eyes  glowed  like  live  coals. 

"  Brother  Dave  will  burn  you  sooner  than  you'll  be  ready  fur 
it  1"  retorted  the  hunter,  with  a  lurid  smile  ;  "  he'll  be  wus  nor 
a  Comanche,  and  will  dog  yer  tracks  like  a  bloodhound  I" 

"  I  move  that  we  burn  him  !"  again  bellowed  the  major  ;  "  if 
you  don't,  by  Heaven  !  I'll  shoot  him,  this  minute  1"  and  he 
snatched  a  pistol  from  his  belt,  and  cocked  it  at  his  enemy's 
breast. 

"  Me  and  brother  Dave  both  know  a  secret  of  .sumthen  you 
did  in  Missouri,  and  if  you  wur  to  kilt  me  in  sich  a  cowardly 
manner  as  this,  he'd  be  sartan  to  tell  on  ye,"  said  Sol  with  a 
mocking  smile. 


THE   TRIAL — AN    EXECUTION.  251 

The  major  turned  suddenly  pale,  am}  the  weapon  of  murder 
vibrated  perceptibly  in  his  hand. 

"  Come  close  to  me,  and  I'll  tell  ye  what  it  is,"  affirmed  the 
hunter  ;  "  don't  be  skeered,  I'll  not  bite  ye,  fur  I'm  not  fond 
enough  of  old  sinner's  meat  to  try  my  tushes  on  the  likes  of 
you." 

Morrow  approached,  and  Sol  whispered  a  single  word  in  his 
ear,  which  operated  like  some  infernal  charm  of  magic.  The 
lyncher's  knees  rocked  under  him,  as  if  he  were  standing  upon 
an  earthquake.  His  very  lips  became  livid  ;  and  he  bit  his 
tongue,  and  tore  his  own  flesh  with  his  nails,  like  one  affected 
by  the  madness  of  hydrophobia.  Even  the  pistol  fell  from  his 
quivering  fingers,  with  a  loud  explosion  upon  the  ground. 

Everybody  was  astonished  at  this  singular  scene;  but  the 
Millenarian  Dodson,  determined  that  the  main  business  should 
proceed,  exclaimed  : 

"  I  second  the  motion  for  burning  !" 

"  Yes,  and  you  had  better  git  at  it  in  a  hurry,"  remarked  Pete 
Whetstone,  with  a  savage  menacing  grin  ;  "  fur  our  boys,  out 
thar  in  the  brush,  are  very  oneasy,  and  they'll  snatch  the  fun 
from  yer  hands,  if  you  don't  mind  yer  cards." 

"  The  president  put  the  question,  and  declared  it  carried,  not 
withstanding,  the  earnest  remonstrances  of  all  the  members  pos 
sessing  one  particle  of  either  shame  or  humanity.  This  resolution, 
however  much  it  might  be  regretted  and  condemned  by  the 
minority,  did  not  excite  any  surprise  ;  for  wherever  the"  murder 
ous  code  of  lynching  prevails,  fire  is  a  favorite  instrument  of 
torture,  as  well  as  of  death,  especially  in  desperate  cases. 


252  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

Indeed,  there  seems  to  be  a  sort  of  satanic  sympathy  between 
passionate  cruel  natures  and  that  mysterious  element  that  we 
call  fire,  and  which  is  the  most  vivid  symbol  of  destroying  force, 
and  pitiless  rage,  whether  it  roars  like  a  hurricane,  in  the  con 
flagration  of  capitals,  or  sweeps  with  a  broad  burning  besom, 
the  grassy  surface  of  the  prairie,  or  shoots  up  its  tall  tongues  of 
wavering  flame,  from  the  crater  of  the  volcano,  licking  the  lurid 
clouds,  or  breaks  in  the  thunderbolts,  that  shiver  the  most  solid 
cliffs  into  atoms.  Everywhere,  it  still  represents,  ruthless,  end 
less,  all-victorious  power,  at  once  the  mightiest  and  most  merci 
less  thing  in  the  sphere  of  human  experience  ;  and  it  cannot  be  a 
matter  of  wonder,  that  the  imagination  of  man  in  all  ages,  has 
made  it  the  chief  pillar  and  principle  of  hell  itself  ;  for  there  is 
something,  indeed,  truly  diabolical,  both  in  the  eternity  of  its 
strength  and  the  terror  of  its  tortures  ! 

Under  the  direction  of  President  Parker,  a  blaze  of  dry  sticks, 
and  pine-knots,  was  immediately  kindled,  and  half-a-dozen  strong 
desperadoes  seized  the  hunter  and  held  his  hands  near  the  flame, 
until  they  were  burned  all  over  to  a  blister  ;  but  by  an  astonish 
ing  effort  of  will,  the  victim  suppressed  all  indications  of  pain. 
Great  drops  of  sweat  rolled  down  his  swarthy  cheeks  ;  but  not  a 
nerve  trembled,  and  he  uttered  neither  moan  nor  cry. 

They  then  brought  him  back,  and  placed  him  again  in  front 
of  the  president,  who  demanded  sternly  : 

"  Will  you  now  confess  ?" 

"  Never  !"  answered  Sol,  in  a  voice  of  sublime  firmness  ; 
"  never  will  I  own  such  a  damning  lie  ;  no  not  if  you  wur  the 
devil  hisself,  instead  of  his  agent,  and  yer  fire  wur  yer  hell  1" 


THE   TRIAL — AN    EXECUTION.  253 

"  We  will  spare  your  life,  if  you  will  acknowledge." 

"  It's  a  lie  1"  said  Sol,  scornfully  ;  "  you  can't  ketch  this  bird 
with  sich  chaff.  You  want  my  name  to  the  paper  of  confession, 
to  show,  and  then  I'd  be  hung  like  the  rest  on  'em." 

"  We  will  all  pledge  ourselves  to  the  contrary,"  urged 
Parker. 

"  I  wouldn't  give  one  chaw  of  tobacker,  fur  any  of  yer  prom 
ises,"  said  Sol,  with  a  smile  of  bitter  sarcasm. 

"  Take  him  and  burn  his  feet,  this  time  I"  ordered  the 
chairman. 

Once  more,  the  savages  grasped  him,  drew  off  his  moccasins', 
and  held  his  ancles  near  the  roaring  flame.  At  the  very  instant, 
however,  an  event  occurred  to  interrupt  their  infernal  sport. 

Suddenly,  from  the  bushes  beyond  the  lake,  at  the  distance  of 
two  hundred  yards,  a  sharp  report  emanated,  a  wreath  of  blue 
smoke  was  seen  curling  up  lazily  in  the  sunny  air,  and  the  des 
perado,  Pete  Whetstone,  pitched  head  foremost  into  the  flame, 
where  he  was  about  to  roast  the  victim  !  A  wild  cry  of  alarm 
and  horror  arose  from  all  the  spectators  of  the  shocking  tragedy, 
and  the  posse  of  the  fallen  sheriff  broke  and  fled  into  the  thicket, 
as  if  a  thousand  guns  bad  been  cocked  at  their  heads. 

So  great  was  the  general  consternation,  that  a  minute  elapsed 
before  anybody  thought  of  dragging  the  prostrate  lyncher  out 
of  the  fire,  and  when  they  did  so,  it  was  found,  that  a  rifle  ball 
had  perforated  his  heart ! 

"That  is  Uncle  Dave  1"  exclaimed  the  boy,  Jack  Randolph, 
as  soon  as  he  perceived  the  roar  ;  and  the  declaration  of  Sol 
himself  confirmed  his  son's  statement,  as  he  cried  : 


254        BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  I  told  you,  Major,  that  my  brother  wur  wuss  nor  a 
Comanche  1" 

"  Pursue  him  !  take  him  dead  or  alive  I"  exclaimed  the  presi 
dent  ;  and  hundreds  started  away  to  execute  the  order,  but 
after  an  hour's  search,  no  trace  of  their  bold  and  dangerous 
enemy  could  be  discovered.  Indeed,  so  very  dense  grew  the 
green  bushes  and  tangled  vines,  that  the  lynchers  might  have 
passed  within  three  steps  of  a  lurking  foe,  without  finding  him. 

As  their  present  situation  had  just  been  proved  to  be  so  peril- 
lous,  the  regulators  determined  to  change  their  place  of  meeting 
to  Morrow's  residence,  where  they  immediately  renewed  their 
session,  in  the  large  parlor. 

The  president,  for  some  reason,  adjourned  the  examination  of 
the  hunter,  and  commenced  that  of  Judge  Moore,  propounding 
the  same  invariable  question,  as  to  guilt  or  innocence. 

"  I  am  guilty  of  buying  up  all  the  vacant  land,  that  I  can 
meet  with,  and  have  the  money  to  pay  for.  I  confess  it,  and 
am  willing  to  sign  a  paper  stating  the  fact,"  answered  the 
Judge,  With  an  air  of  blended  pride  and  scorn. 

"  Respond,  sir,  to  the  accusation,"  commanded  the  president, 
scowling  ominously. 

"  I  have  fully  replied  to  your  real  charge,"  said  the  Judge  ; 
"  for  disguise  it  as  you  may,  the  true  cause  for  the  hostility  of 
your  dirty  gang  against  me,  is  my  success  as  a  speculator  in 
lands." 

"  That  subject  is  not  up  for  discussion  at  present,"  rejoined 
Parker,  "  and  I  insist  upon  a  categorical  affirmative  or  negative 
to  my  interrogatory." 


THE   TRIAL— AN    EXECUTION.  255 

"  Perhaps  you  would  like  to  know  who  is  my  secret  partner 
and  joint  proprietor  with  me  in  all  the  real  estate  which  stands 
recorded  in  my  name,"  suggested  the  judge,  with  a  singular  smile. 

"  No  ;  but  answer  the  question  !"  threatened  the  chairman. 

"  If  you  only  knew  my  partner,  you  would  plunge  your  own 
hands  in  the  fire,  rather  than  harm  a  hair  of  my  head," 
remarked  the  judge,  with  the  same  significant,  steady  smile, 

"  Who,  then,  is  your  partner,  in  the  devil's  name  ?"  cried  the 
president  in  a  towering  passion. 

"  General  Sam  Houston." 

Had  a  sudden  earthquake  shaken  the  house  from  its  founda 
tions,  the  dismay  and  surprise  could  hardly  have  been  greater. 
At  the  articulation  of  that  distinguished  name,  the  bravest  held 
their  breath,  and  the  frightened  members  gazed  silently  in  each 
others  pale  faces,  to  read  there  the  common  thought,  "  we  are 
ruined  1" 

The  more  moderate  and  humane  now  seized  the  propitious 
moment  to  press  rational  and  merciful  counsels.  Parson  Carter 
renewed  his  motion  for  a  regular  legal  investigation,  and  the 
production  of  mutual  proofs  for  and  against  the  accused.  All 
those  who  had  previously  voted  with  him  supported  the  proposi 
tion  with  increased  ardor,  and  several  others  changed  to  the 
same  side.  Even  the  terrified  president  himself  wavered. 

But,  unfortunately,  the  ruffians  without,  who  flocked  to  the 
doors  and  windows,  soon  discovered  what  was  going  on,  and 
determined  not  to  be  foiled  in  their  expected  feast  of  revenge. 
They  raised  a  deafening  clamor,  and  uttering  awful  menaces, 
urged  the  committee  to  proceed  as  they  had  commenced. 


256       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AH  A. 

The  itinerant  Baker  whispered  in  Carter's  ear,  "  Brother, 
withdraw  your  motion  for  the  time  ;  our  only  chance  in  favor 
of  justice  and  humanity  is  to  delay  the  tragedy  as  long  as 
practicable,  in  the  hope  that  something  may  happen  finally 
to  prevent  it."  And  the  parson  acted  immediately  on  the 
advice. 

"  How  are  we  to  be  assured  that  you  have  told  us  the 
truth  ?"  faltered  President  Parker,  recovering,  in  some  degree, 
from  his  stupor  of  fear. 

"  General  Houston  is  on  his  way  to  this  country  from 
Nacogdoches,  and  you  can  ascertain  the  facts  from  his  own 
lips,"  answered  Judge  Moore,  still  smiling. 

"  Then,  by  Heaven  1  let  us  hang  Sam  Houston  himself  1" 
exclaimed  Major  Morrow,  in  accents  of  the  utmost  rage. 

"Hang  the  President  of  the  Republic  !"  ejaculated  the  judge, 
with  a  mocking  laugh. 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  hang  you  both  on  the  same  tree  I"  thundered 
a  hundred  wild  voices  from  the  door  and  windows. 

"  General  Houston  is  coming,  attended  by  three  hundred 
rangers,  and  has  called  out  all  the  militia  of  the  Red  Lands. 
Will  you  hang  all  of  them?"  exclaimed  the  judge,  with  a 
triumphant  look. 

This  remark  operated  upon  many  as  a  thunder-shock  ;  but  a 
majority  of  the  reckless  desperadoes  shouted,  "  It  is  a  lie  !  and  if 
it  be  so,  we  can  whip  them  all.  Huzza  !  for  the  free  State  of 
Tanaha  for  ever  !" 

"  If  you  do  not  plead  guilty,  if  the  court  were  so  disposed, 
they  could  not  save  you.  Listen  to  the  exclamations  of  the 


THE   TRIAL — AN   EXECUTION.  257 

mob,  and  be  wise,  before  it  is  too  late,"  insisted  Parker,  in  per 
suasive  tones. 

"  Do,  I  implore  you,  my  dearest  father,"  said  the  beautiful 
Jenny,  kneeling  before  him,  and  bathing  his  feet  with  her  tears. 

"  I  would  rather,  any  day,  die  a  true  and  brave  man,  than 
live  eternally  a  liar  and  coward  1"  he  answered,  firmly. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  RANGERS. 

No  human  soul  can  ever  know  either  its  own  power,  or  its 
own  weakness,  until  it  encounters  the  crisis  of  destiny  capable 
of  testing  the  fact.  There  are  mysterious  and  mighty  energies 
in  every  mind,  latent  forces,  amazing  faculties  to  do  and  to 
endure,  which,  like  the  secret,  central  fires  of  the  earth,  lie 
dormant  and  undeveloped,  if  the  shock  of  the  earthquake  comes 
not  to  call  them  forth,  to  free  them  from  the  waveless,  lethean 
lethargy  of  common  life.  It  is  this  circumstance  which  renders 
it  so  difficult  for  us  to  comprehend  the  history  of  heroic  ages,  to 
imagine  the  lofty  actions  of  arms  strung  with  nerves  of  ignited 
steel,  and  the  terrible  daring  of  hearts  alive  with  lightning.  We 
must  have  some  insight  into  the  hidden  depths  of  our  own  nature 
in  order  to  realize  fully  the  awful  legends  of  patriot  and  martyr, 
arid  the  brave  tales  of  the  wild  backwoods. 

When  man  is  liberated  from  the  restraints  of  law,  when  the 
strong  fetters  of  custom,  habit,  and  education  have  been  broken 
from  his  hands,  when  he  is  confronted,  face  to  face,  with  the 
scowling  forms  of  danger  and  the  black  shadows  of  death,  of 


THE    RANGERS.  259 

which  he  had  previously  only  dreamed  as  unreal  phantoms,  then 
he  shows,  at  once,  all  the  naked,  undisguised  divinity,  or  devil, 
lurking  in  the  vast  abyss  of  his  bosom,  and  displays  the  most 
marvellous  virtue,  or  amazing  crime. 

"I  would  rather  die,  any  day,  a  truthful  and  brave  man,  than 
live  eternally  a  liar  and  coward ! "  Such  was  the  last  answer 
and  final  resolve  of  Judge  Moore  when  the  lynchers  presented 
their  frightful  alternative  of  confession,  or  fiery  tortures  and  a 
disgraceful  tomb  beneath  the  gallows-tree.  And  yet  this  man, 
during  his  life  hitherto,  immersed  in  the  pursuits  of  trade  and 
money-making,  had  evinced  no  signs  of  exalted  prowess,  or  more 
than  ordinary  firmness  of  character.  He  had  not  even  distin 
guished  himself  in  field  or  foray,  when  the  Texan  revolution  called 
all  the  patriotism  and  chivalry  of  the  land  to  fight  the  glorious 
battles  of  their  country.  Indeed,  he  had  still  gone  on,  amidst 
the  storm  and  strife,with  his  darling  speculations  to  achieve  a 
fortune,  and  had  acquired  a  reputation  for  personal  timidity, 
which  strangely  contrasted  with  his  present  undaunted  conduct. 

At  the  moment  of  uttering  his  defiant  response,  the  appear 
ance  of  the  Judge  was  truly  sublime.  An  electric  spark  seemed 
to  leap,  like  lightning,  from  the  folds  of  his  massive  brain, 
flashing  in  his  blue  eyes,  glowing  in  his  stern  features,  swelling 
with  lava-currents  the  valves  of  his  powerful  heart,  and  spread 
ing  to  the  remotest  extremities  of  his  frame  a  fiery  flush  of 
irritation. 


But  hardly  had  he  spoken,  when  a  deafening  shout,  a  perfect 
tempest  of  horrible  threats  and  curses  thundered  in  the  adjacent 
yard,  and  circulated  among  the  crowd,  till  the  tumult  resembled 


260       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AHA. 

the  roar  of  ocean  breakers,  mingled  with  the  cries  of  rage  and 
shrieks  of  agony,  such  as  resound  on  the  field  of  battle,  when 
charging  columns  cross  their  bayonets  in  bloody  strife,  while 
high  above  all,  might  be  heard  the  piercing  wail  of  female  voices, 
from  heart-strings  quivering  for  the  loved  and  lost. 

The  wagons  had  just  arrived  with  the  gory  corpses  of  young 
Johnson,  and  the  son  and  nephew  of  Major  Morrow.  Every 
spectator,  and  even  the  committee  rushed  out  to  survey  this 
new  horror,  so  far  transcending  all  the  terrible  scenes,  which 
had  yet  been  witnessed.  The  mothers  and  sisters  of  the  dead, 
giving  way  to  the  wildest  madness  of  grief,  increased  the  furi 
ous  passions  and  ungovernable  excitement  of  the  multitude, 
until  the  screaming,  menacing,  howling  throng  might  have  been 
mistaken  for  a  mass  meeting  of  fiends  in  pandemonium,  rather 
than  an  assembly  of  human  beings  in  a  civilized  land. 

Suddenly,  the  hoarse  voice  of  Major  Morrow  exclaimed  in 
tones  of  awful  distinctness,  heard  even  above  the  roar  of  that 
storm  of  burning  breath  ;  "  blood  for  blood,  boys  I  let  not  the 
assassins  of  our  sons  and  brothers  live  one  moment  longer  !  " 

And  five  hundred  fiery  lips,  in  accents  of  phrenzied  wrath, 
echoed  that  appalling  cry  ;  '•  blood  for  blood  !  n  as  they  swarmed, 
with  diabolical  visages,  and  flaming  eyes  around  the  door. 

"Now  is  the  time  for  true  men  to  die  !  "  said  Hiram  Baker, 
as  he  snatched  a  revolver  from  the  belt  of  Parson  Carter,  and 
threw  himself  between  the  prisoners  and  their  doom,  thundering 
in  the  face  of  the  astonished  desperadoes  ;  "  you  shall  not  prova 
yourselves  to  be  devils  1  you  enter  not  here,  but  by  passing  ovei! 
my  dead  body. 


THE   RANGERS.  261 

His  lofty  look,  the  inconceivable  sublimity  of  his  brave  bear 
ing,  awed  the  ruffians,  and  inspired  the  few  friends  of  humanity 
with  his  own  determined  courage.  Young  Boiling,  and  half  a 
dozen  others,  with  cocked  pistols  flew  to  his  side,  all  equally 
determined  to  triumph  or  fall  with  him. 

But  the  noble  conduct  of  Parson  Johnson  had  the  greatest 
influence  of  all,  to  prevent  the  impending  calamity,  as  with 
pallid  features,  and  streaming  eyes  he  stood  in  the  centre  of  the 
door,  with  bowie  knives  and  pistols  bristling  before  his  breast, 
and  pointing  a  tremulous  finger  at  the  corpse  of  his  own  beloved 
boy,  he  exclaimed  in  accents  of  unutterable  emotion ;  '*  Lo  1 
there,  I  too  have  lost  a  child,  the  idol  of  my  heart,  the  very 
hope  and  stay  of  my  life  ;  but  I  would  rather  that  every  remain 
ing  member  of  my  family  should  be  shrouded  on  the  same  bloody 
bier,  than  behold  the  commission  of  a  cruel  homicide,  such  as 
would  brand  us  all,  and  even  defile  our  country,  with  the  black 
est  stains  of  eternal  disgrace  !  Wait  patiently,  I  implore  you, 
in  God's  name,  for  the  sober  action  of  the  committee,  whom  you 
have  voluntarily  sworn  to  obey.  But  rest  assured,  if  you  mas 
sacre  them,  we  will  also  die  with  them,  and  many  of  you  will 
accompany  us  to  the  same  gory  grave." 

"  He  tells  the  truth,"  cried  all  the  Methodists  among  the 
multitude  ;  "let  us  follow  the  good  preacher's  advice." 

Major  Morrow  himself  saw  the  danger  of  proceeding  further 
with  his  ruthless  purpose,  and  assisting  to  allay  the  wild  excite* 
ment  which  his  words  had  caused,  a  degree  of  order  was,  at 
last,  restored,  and  the  council  again  commenced  their  investiga 
tion. 


262        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  I  move,"  said  the  Millenarian  Dodson,  "  that  Judge  Moore 
be  scourged  until  he  confesses  his  guilt." 

"  You  deserve  the  lash  on  your  own  brute's  back  for  such  a 
suggestion  1"  ejaculated  Parson  Carter,  "  for  you  know  that  he 
never  could  be  induced  to  sign  any  such  acknowledgment,  and 
the  attempt  to  force  it  would  be  only  useless  torture." 

"It  is  the  rule,  adopted  by  a  majority  of  the  members," 
rejoined  the  other,  angrily,  "  and  I  see  no  reason  for  making 
this  old  land-pirate  an  exception,  merely  because  he  is  wealthy, 
and  wears  fine  clothes." 

"  I  second  the  motion  for  scourging,"  announced  Mose  Min- 
ton,  "  as  judges,  we  must  manifest  no  partiality." 

At  that  instant,  the  beautiful  Jenny  Moore  suddenly  bowed 
upon  her  knees  before  the  itinerant  Hiram  Baker,  and  clasping 
her  hands  as  if  in  prayer,  fixed  an  imploring  look  on  his  counte 
nance.  Her  features  were  pale  and  unspeakably  sad  ;  yet  she 
uttered  not  a  word,  for  fear  of  separation  from  the  side  of  her 
father  ;  but  the  mournful  pantomime  said,  in  language  more 
powerful  than  any  words,  had  they  been  spoken  in  thunder, 
"  Save  him  I  you  alone  can  save  him." 

Her  lovely,  beseeching  face,  and  posture  of  ineffable  grief, 
touched  several  to  tears,  and  the  young  preacher  made  an 
appeal  of  mingled  argument  and  pathos  in  behalf  of  mercy, 
surpassing  his  usual  eloquence  ;  but  the  cries  of  indignation  and 
wrath,  from  the  mob  around  the  windows,  soon  drowned  hiu 
voice,  and  obliged  him  to  desist. 

Lawyer  Rider  then  conceived  an  expedient  to  evade  the 
question,  for  the  present,  and  remarked,  "  Let  us  postpone  the 


THE   RANGERS.  263 

examination  of  the  judge,  for  a  while,  and  take  up  the  case  of 
the  boy  Tattle." 

"Yes,  I  am  in  favor  of  that,"  exclaimed  Major  Morrow, 
eagerly  ;  "he  killed  my  son,  and  I  demand  blood  for  blood,  and 
I  want  to  see  the  man  who  will  deny  the  debt  1" 

"What  do  you  say,  Jack  Randolph  ?"  inquired  President 
Parker  ;  "you  are  charged  with  the  murder  of  Morton  Morrow; 
are  you  guilty  or  not?" 

"  I  popped  him  over  becase  he  struck  my  daddy,  when  his 
hands  were  tied,  and  I'd  do  it  again,"  answered  the  boy,  boldly. 

"  He  owns  the  fact ;  let  him  be  condemned  at  once,"  cried 
the  major,  furiously,  adding  a  murderous  menace  ;  "  whoever 
dares  vote  against  it,  shall  have  his  ribs  tickled  with  the  pint  of 
my  bowie-knife,  in  a  way  that  won't  make  him  feel  like  laugh 
ing,  I  swear  1" 

The  question  being  put  by  the  chairman,  received  seven 
suffrages  in  the  affirmative,  while  the  others,  either  deterred  by 
the  chief  lyncher's  threat,  or  being  satisfied  how  utterly  useless 
would  be  all  efforts  in  opposition,  abstained  altogether  from  voting. 

"  I  move  that  he  be  executed  this  very  minute  I"  cried  the 
major,  with  a  hoarse  chuckle,  that  sounded  more  like  the  growl 
of  a  wild  beast,  than  any  intonations  of  a  human  voice. 

"And  I  second  the  proposition,"  said  the  Millenarian  ;  "per 
haps  the  spectacle  will  bring  Judg&  Moore  to  his  senses." 

In  vain  the  more  merciful  members  urged  delay  until  the 
morrow  ;  the  mob  around  the  house  yelled  like  an  army  of 
wolves,  for  the  immediate  slaughter,  and  the  resolution  was 
carried  by  a  majority  of  two. 


264  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA, 

"  I  will  hang  him  myself,'1  affirmed  the  arch-regulator,  his 
grey  eyes  gleaming  like  those  of  a  rattlesnake  in  the  act  of 
striking,  and  hastily  producing  a  cord,  he  fastened  one  end 
around  the  boy's  neck,  and  threw  the  other  over  the  joist. 

Little  Jack  grew  mortally  pale,  and  trembled  slightly,  but  he 
offered  no  petition  for  his  young  life.  He  only  looked  at  his 
father,  and  cried,  in  a  faint,  yet  tolerably  firm,  tone  :  "  Good 
bye,  daddy  ;  if  they  don't  hang  you,  tell  mamma  and  my  sisters 
good  bye,  too,  and  kiss  the  baby  for  me.  I  wish  as  how  I  could 
see  'em  all  before  I  go  !" 

"  Blood  for  blood  !"  shouted  the  merciless  major,  as  he  jerked 
the  loose  end  of  the  rope,  and  hoisted  the  poor  child  into  the 
air. 

"Brother  Dave  will  have  blood  for  blood  !"  exclaimed  the 
hunter,  in  accents  so  fearfully,  preternaturally  hollow,  as  almost 
to  freeze  the  very  marrow  in  the  bones  of  the  horrified  hearers, 
while  great  tears  of  blended  sorrow  and  rage  rolled  down  his 
sun-burnt  cheeks  ;  but  not  a  muscle  quivered,  not  a  limb  shook, 
as  he  gazed  upon  the  writhing  awful  agonies  of  his  son.  His 
nerves  seemed  changed  to  steel. 

At  that  moment,  a  tall,  powerful  man,  with  burning  black 
eyes,  swarthy  features,  and  a  countenance  of  unutterable  daring, 
galloped  up  into  the  yard,  leaped  from  his  horse,  pierced  through 
the  crowd,  and  entered  the  parlor.  The  sentinels  had  attempted 
to  arrest  his  progress,  but  he  waved  them  aside,  with  a  gesture 
of  lofty  disdain,  and  they  all  recoiled  from  his  fierce  looks,  and 
the  full  uniform  of  an  officer  in  the  Texan  army. 

The  instant  he  stood  in  the  presence  of  the  astonished  com- 


THE    RANGCRS.  265 

mittee,  he  cried,  in  a  voice  of  thundering  menace,  "  Rebels  and 
assassins,  what  is  this  I  behold  ?  Are  ye  murdering  a  child  ?" 
and  snatching  his  sword  from  the  scabbard,  at  a  single  blow  he 
severed  the  cord,  and  released  the  dying  boy. 

"  Who  are  you,  that  thus  dare  to  trifle  with  your  own  life  ?" 
shouted  a  dozen  lynchers  in  the  same  breath. 

"  I  am  Colonel  Cook,  the  aid  of  General  Houston,"  answered 
the  other  with  a  grand  air  ;  "  and  who  are  you  that  seek  the 
hemp  of  the  common  hangman,  by  your  treason  and  black 
hearted  homicides  ?  Away  with  you,  wretches  and  cowards 
that  ye  are,  to  the  Comanches,  whose  craven  cruelty  your  bloody 
crimes  would  disgrace  1" 

Several  members  of  the  council  started  from  their  seats,  in 
frightful  agitation,  as  if  to  obey  literally  the  stern  mandate  ;  but 
Major  Morrow  fulminated  to  the  ruffians  around  the  door  : 

"  Boys,  let  no  one,  friend  or  foe,  leave  this  house  !  if  anybody 
attempts  to  do  so,  send  a  score  of  rifle  balls  through  his  brain  I" 

"  That  we  will  !"  bellowed  the  desperadoes  ;  "huzza  1  for  the 
free  state  of  Tanaha,  for  ever  1" 

When  this  savage  order  was  given,  and  greeted  with  such  a 
cordial  response,  the  passion  of  the  Texan  officer  became  "abso 
lutely  appalling.  His  dark  eyes  flashed  jets  of  flame,  and  his 
entire  visage  looked  lurid  as  a  face  wreathed  with  the  wing  of  a 
thunder-cloud,  as  he  exclaimed  : 

"  Fools,  rebels,  and  assassins  !  do  you,  indeed,  think  to  defy 
the  public  force,  as  well  as  to  violate  all  law,  human  and  divine  ? 
before  the  sun  sets  to-morrow,  old  Houston  will  swing  you  all  on 
a  gallows  higher  than  that  of  Haraan,  unless  you  bow  down  in 

12 


266  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OF   THE   TANAHA. 

prompt  submission  to  the  proclamation,  which  I  bring  you  1" 
and  the  colonel  drew  from  his  pocket  a  document  bearing  the 
great  seal  of  Texas. 

"  Do  not  ,  let  him  read  it  I"  vociferated  Major  Morrow. 
"  Boys,  cock  and  present  your  guns  !" 

An  ominous  sharp  clicking  was  heard  at  all  the  doors  and 
windows,  showing  that  the  desperadoes  stood  ready  to  fire  at  the 
first  signal  of  their  leader  ;  and  the  muzzles  of  more  than  fifty 
rifles  covered  Colonel  Cook's  head  and  heart.  He  smiled  at  the 
danger,  however,  with  an  aspect  of  infinite  scorn,  and  remarked 
in  clear,  calm  tones  : 

"  Did  I  not  just  pronounce  you  all  cowards  and  murderers  ? 
and  now  you  would  prove  the  truth  of  my  assertion  by  shooting  a 
man  without  giving  him  a  chance.  I  am  willing  to  fight  half-a- 
dozen  of  your  best  bravoes  ;  but  five  hundred  such  dogs  are  too 
many  to  kill  at  once  1" 

"Never  mind  what  he  says,  boys,"  commanded  the  major  ; 
"  wait  until  I  give  the  word,  and  then  blow  him  into  mince 
meat  !" 

"  Are  you  all  alike  rebels,  gentlemen  ?"  inquired  the  officer, 
scowling  at  the  different  members  of  the  committee  ;  "  do  you 
know  that  the  President  has  proclaimed  martial  law,  and  that 
every  one  of  you  caught  with  arms  in  his  hands  will  die  the 
death  of  a  traitor,  without  the  hope  of  mercy  ?" 

A  few  of  the  council  commenced  protestations ;  but  the  arch- 
lyncher  interposed  : 

"  By  Heaven  !  if  one  of  you  offer  to  desert  our  cause,  I'll  have 
"am  shot  before  the  cowardly  word  gets  cold  on  his  lying  lips  !" 


THE   RANGERS.  261 

then  turning  towards  the  colonel,  he  said  sternly  ;  "  Sir,  surren 
der  your  sword  P 

Young  Boiling  and  the  itinerant  Baker,  both  fearing  a  refusal 
from  the  fiery  Texan,  and  foreseeing  the  fatal  consequences  of  his 
rashness,  entreated  : 

"For  God's  sake,  do  not  throw  away  your  life  so  imprudently ; 
you  are  not  aware  of  these  men's  desperation  !" 

"  Never  !"  responded  the  officer,  with  a  countenance  of  superb 
pride,  and  ineffable  scorn  ;  "  never  shall  this  blade  of  stainless 
steel,  placed  in  my  grasp  by  the  patriot  and  hero,  the  father  of 
his  country,  suffer  the  burning  disgrace  of  going  into  the  hand 
of  a  wretched  rebel,  doubly  damned  with  the  pollution  of  both 
blood  and  treason  I" 

Take  aim  at  his  head  !"  cried  the  major,  almost  inarticulate 
with  rage,  and  the  next  instant,  Texas  would  have  lost  one  of 
the  brightest  stars  that  burned  on  the  gory  field  of  San 
Jacinto,  when  quick  as  a  thought,  Colonel  Cook  broke  his  sword 
across  his  knee,  and  dashing  down  the  fragments  at  Morrow's 
feet,  thundered  in  accents  that  made  hundreds  of  the  bravest 
desperadoes  grow  pale  : 

"  There,  assassins  1  when  those  two  pieces  of  glorious  steel 
coalesce  again,  then  may  your  treason  find  pardon  ;  but  never 
till  then  1"  and  he  wheeled  to  leave  the  parlor. 

"  Halt  I"  roared  the  chief  regulator  ;  "  stir  not  another  step, 
or  your  life  is  not  worth  a  copper.  You  are  our  prisoner,  or  a 
dead  man  in  spite  of  hell  and  Houston  !" 

"  Yery  well,  so  be  it,"  answered  the  officer,  with  a  malicious, 


268  RANGERS    AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

mocking  laugh  ;  "  but  I  shall  live  to  see  you  all  hanged,  never 
theless  I" 

Then,  by  the  order  of  the  major,  he  was  fettered  like  the  other 
prisoners,  and  the  committee  renewed  their  deliberations,  the 
friends  of  humanity  in  a  state  of  pale,  shuddering  agitation,  but 
the  ruthless  and  reckless  in  a  more  murderous  mood  than  ever  ; 
since  they  had  put  themselves  beyond  the  reach  of  mercy,  and 
had  no  hope  now,  save  in  desperation. 

"  I  move,"  said  the  Millenarian,  "  that  the  accused  be  all  con 
demned  to  death,  in  the  aggregate,  without  any  more  ado  about 
it  1" 

"  I  second  the  motion,"  urged  Major  Morrow  ;  "  and  then  let 
old  Sam  get  them  back  out  of  the  grave,  if  he  can  I" 

"  And  I  move,  that  the  tall  feller,  what  broke  his  sword, 
be  hung  up  with  tothers,"  added  Mose  Minton  ;  "  he's 
got  too  much  breath,  and  a  little  mite  of  chokiu'  will  do  'im 
good  !" 

"  I  second  the  amendment,"  cried  the  chief,  with  his  fiendish 
chuckle  ;  "  he  boasted  that  he  would  see  us  hang  ;  but  he'll  have 
to  do  it  with  stony  eyeballs  !" 

"  That's  the  brave  talk  1"  yelled  the  mob  at  the  door  and 
windows  ;  "  huzza  for  the  free  state  of  Tanaha  for  ever  !" 

Parsons  Carter  and  Johnson  opposed  the  atrocious  proposi 
tion,  but  the  terrible  threats  of  the  ruffians,  without,  prevailed 
against  their  prudent  councils,  and  the  measure  became  a  law. 

"  I  move  that  they  all  be  executed  immediately,"  insisted 
Dodson  ;  "  the  sooner  the  dirty  job  is  off  our  hands  the  better." 


THE   EANGERS.  269 

• 

"  So  say  I,"  seconded  the  major,  "  such  promptitude  and 
decision  will  terrify  even  old  Sam  himself ;  and  he'll  think  twice 
before  he  shows  his  head  in  the  dangerous  air  of  Tanaha." 

The  two  Methodist  ministers  objected,  with  still  greater 
warmth  and  boldness,  to  this  ruinous  course,  which  would 
necessarily  involve  them  all  in  the  guilt  of  murder.;  but  the 
deafening  shouts  of  the  mob  drowned  their  arguments,  and  the 
doom  of  the  victims  appeared  to  be  sealed,  when  a  messenger 
rushed  into  the  room,  crying,  in  fearful  accents,  "  The  Rangers 
are  marching  against  us,  and  will  be  here  before  dark  1" 

Most  of  the  committee  turned  pale  at  the  intelligence,  and 
many  a  desperate  heart  beat  like  a  muffled  drum. 

"  How  do  you  know,  Jack  Simonton  ?"  interrogated  Major 
Morrow,  without  any  symptoms  of  fright. 

"  I  seed  them  myself,  this  forenoon,  not  twenty  miles  from 
Shelbyville." 

"  But  perhaps  they  are  only  after  the  robbers,"  suggested  the 
Millenarian. 

"  No,"  answered  Jack,  trembling  in  every  joint,  "  they  had 
heern  of  your  nabbin'  Judge  Moore,  and  old  Sam  wur  cussin' 
orfully.  It  raely  made  my  har  stick  up  like  bristles,  to  listen  to 
him." 

"Well,  boys,  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  done  but  stand, 
and  fight  it  out.  Let  us  begin  by  hanging  these  friends  of  the 
President  !"  exclaimed  the  chief,  with  his  truculent  chuckle. 

Lawyer  Rider  now  interposed.  "  Let  us  commit  no  such 
folly.  It  would  be  worse  than  cutting  off  our  own  noses.  The 
wisest  plan  will  be  to  keep  the  prisoners  chained  and  closely 


270       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

+ 

guarded  in  one  of  the  rooms  up  stairs.  Then,  if  we  succeed  in 
defeating  the  Rangers,  we  can  execute  the  condemned  after 
wards.  But  if,  on  the  other  hand,  they  should  storm  our  castle, 
we  will  be  innocent  of  the  awful  crime  of  murder,  and  we  may 
easily  quibble  out  of  the  charge  for  treason.  And  besides,  they 
will  hesitate  to  attack  us,  from  the  fear  of  shooting  their  own 
friends." 

This  adroit  view  of  the  case  commended  itself  so  strongly  to 
the  prudence  of  all,  that  it  was  finally  adopted,  and  the  prisoners 
being  removed  up  stairs,  the  regulators  prepared  for  an  obsti 
nate  defence. 

The  itinerant  Baker  now  whispered  in  young  Boiling's  ear, 
"  Let  us  all  who  are  opposed  to  this  horrible  insurrection,  man 
age,  if  we  can,  to  occupy  the  upper  rooms,  and  concert  some 
means  for  our  own  safety."  The  youth  assented,  and  the 
circuit-rider  proceeded  to  urge  the  same  advice  upon  all  the 
members  of  the  Methodist  communion,  while  the  other  sought 
his  black  man  Caesar,  and  thenceforth  kept  him  by  his  side. 

The  day  rolled  heavily  away,  and  at  the  dusk  of  twilight,  the 
Rangers  appeared  in  full  view,  and  halted  near  the  gate 
through  which  William  Boiling  had  passed  on  his  first  visit  to 
the  farm.  The  troop  of  bloodhounds  and  other  savage  dogs, 
flew  towards  the  strangers,  uttering  unearthly  yells  ;  but  a  vol 
ley  of  bullets  and  buckshot  soon  silenced  their  discordant  cries, 
stretching  half  their  number  at  their  hairy  length,  along  the 
ground,  and  sending  back  the  rest  howling  and  limping  to  their 
kennels. 

Immediately,  a  messenger  galloped  into  the  yard,  notwith- 


THE   RANGERS.  271 

standing  the  challenge  of  the  sentinels,  and  bloody  threats  of  the 
lynchers.  He  paused  at  the  very  muzzles  of  the  guns,  and  cried 
in  a  loud  voice,  "  Traitors  to  your  country,  I  summon  you,  in 
the  name  of  the  Republic  of  Texas,  to  throw  down  your  arms, 
and  surrender  at  discretion,  otherwise  you  can  hope  for  no  cle 
mency  at  the  hands  of  the  Executive." 

"Why  don't  old  Sam  come,  and  read  his  own  proclamation?" 
asked  Major  Morrow,  with  a  derisive  laugh. 

"  General  Houston  has  gone  back  to  hurry  up  five  hundred 
brave  Red  Landers,  so  that  you  may  perceive  it  will  be  sheer 
madness  for  you  to  resist  them." 

"  Who,  then,  is  the  commander  of  yonder  cowardly  squad  ?" 
inquired  the  chief  lyncher,  with  a  sneer. 

"  Colonel  Henderson,"  replied  the  other,  with  solemn  dignity, 
"  And  I  warn  you  not  to  test  the  courage  of  those  troops. 
They  are  the  men  of  San  Jacinto,  and  are  terribly  exasperated 
by  the  shamefulness  of  your  conduct." 

"  If  they  be  such  fire-eaters,  let  them  come  on  ;  they  will  find 
us  a  tougher  morsel  to  digest  than  the  faint-hearted  greasers," 
retorted  the  major. 

"  Once  more,  and  for  the  last  time,  I  demand  an  immediate 
and  unconditional  surrender,"  shouted  the  officer,  "  and  if  you 
obey  not,  I  now  admonish  all  who  value  their  lives,  to  escape 
from  this  accursed  and  doomed  crowd  of  rebels,  and  if  my 
advice  be  not  heeded,  their  blood  be  upon  their  own  heads." 

"  Your  blood  shall  redden  the  earth  first,  my  fine  boaster  !" 
exclaimed  the  furious  chief,  as  he  levelled  a  pistol  at  the  officer's 
heart. 


272  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TAN  AHA. 

But  the  latter  wheeled  his  horse,  and  darted  away  like  an 
arrow,  while  a  shower  of  balls  whistled  around  him,  piercing  his 
person,  but  not  dangerously,  in  several  places.  Everybody 
expected  now  that  the  assault  would  commence  in  earnest. 
However,  for  some  reason,  i't  was  delayed. 

In  the  meantime,  the  opposers  of  the  insurrection  had  col 
lected  in  small  groups  in  the  upper  rooms  of  the  building  ;  for 
the  majority  were  too  much  absorbed  in  their  busy  preparations 
for  the  coming  struggle,  to  observe  the  actions  of  the  few. 

Suddenly  one  of  the  guard,  set  to  watch  the  prisoners,  called 
out  : 

"  Colonel  Cook  wants  to  converse  with  the  Methodist  minis 
ter,  to  fit  his  soul  for  the  death  he  must  shortly  die." 

Baker  approached,  and  upon  being  admitted,  the  officer  drew 
him  into  a  corner,  and  said  in  a  whisper  : 

"The  rangers  have  a  piece  of  artillery,  and  some  one  must 
contrive  to  reach  their  camp,  and  tell  them  not  to  aim  at  the 
second  story,  as  it  is  occupied  by  the  prisoners,  and  their 
friends." 

The  itinerant  soon  returned,  and  after  communicating  the  fact 
to  his  associates,  Parson  Carter  determined  to  bear  the  message, 
He  descended  into  the  yard,  and  passing  through  the  lines, 
drew  near  the  sentinels,  and  remarked  in  a  low,  confidential 
voice  : 

"I  am  dispatched  on  a  mission  to  the  hostile  camp,"  upon 
which,  they  allowed  him  to  proceed. 

"  No  pen  can  describe  the  anxiety  that  pervaded  the  block 
house  during  that  sleepless  night.  The  lynchers  stood  it  out 


THE    RANGERS.  273 

with  guns  cocked  in  their  hands,  expecting  every  moment  to  be 
attacked.  Several  of  them,  indeed,  attempted  to  escape  under 
cover  of  the  darkness,  and  were  shot  down  by  their  own  senti 
nels  ;  for  such  had  been  the  merciless  order  of  their  ferocious 
leader. 

Nor  could  the  condition  of  the  captives  and  their  sympathiz 
ers  be  regarded  as  much  more  favorable  ;  since,  if  the  regulators 
should  discover  the  impossibility  of  holding  their  position,  it  was 
highly  probable,  that  they  would  massacre  the  prisoners,  before 
they  endeavored  to  retreat  ;  and,  although  a  small  party  would 
stand  by  them  to  the  last  extremity,  this  force  was  feeble  com 
pared  with  the  number  that  thirsted  for  their  blood. 

The  feelings  of  young  Boiling  were  of  the  most  painfully 
excruciating  character.  He  knew,  that  if  the  rangers  should 
even  succeed  in  carrying  the  block-house  by  storm,  in  the 
moment  of  victory,  when  all  the  inmates  should  be  mingled 
together,  it  could  not  be  hoped  that  the  troops  of  the  Republic 
either  could,  or  would  discriminate  between  the  innocent  and 
guilty ;  and  if  they  did  not  fall  beneath  the  bowie  or  bullet,  they 
still  incurred  the  more  loathsome  risk  of  being  hung  for  treason. 
Then  his  mind  would  wander  to  a  yet  sadder  subject.  His  affi 
anced  bride  was,  doubtless,  in  the  power  of  the  brutal  bandits, 
and  the  very  thought  was  a  dagger  in  his  brain,  a  serpent's 
tooth  in  his  heart,  a  torture  more  unendurable  than  the  flames 
of  the  martyr's  stake  ! 

In  the  meanwhile,  a  most  touching  picture  was  presented  in  the 
room  of  the  prisoners.  The  boy,  Jack  Randolph,  having  been 
resuscitated,  after  the  rope  around  his  neck  had  been  cut  by  the 

12* 


274        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAEA. 

sword  of  Colonel  Cook,  now  clung  with  unceasing  tears  to  the 
hunter's  bosom,  murmuring  in  mournful  whispers  of  mother  and 
of  home,  in  which  the  tender  word  "  baby  "  was  often  repeated 
by  heart-breaking  sobs.  The  countenance  of  Sol  looked  stern 
and  gloomy  ;  but,  although  his  hands,  blistered  all  over  by  the 
torture  of  the  morning,  must  have  caused  the  most  intense  pain, 
he  never  uttered  the  slightest  complaint,  or  seemed  even  con 
scious  of  the  sensation.  He  was  thinking  of  something  else  ;  and 
the  dark  passion  of  revenge  on  his  sunburnt  face  appeared  more 
awfully  ominous  than  the  frown  of  an  electric  cloud. 

The  promised  brides  of  the  two  Bartons  clasped  the  necks  of 
their  lovers  ;  for  in  this  perilous  crisis,  all  cold  calculations  of 
prudence  were  forgotten,  and  nature  untrammeled  had  her 
course. 

The  beautiful  Jenny  Moore  was  seated  in  one  corner,  on  the 
lap  of  her  father,  whispering  the  praises  of  the  young  and  hand 
some  itinerant,  whose  brave  eloquence  had  so  powerfully  defend 
ed  the  holy  cause  of  humanity.  Oh  1  sweet  mysterious  madness 
of  universal  love,  what  immortal  magic  is  thine,  that  defies  all 
danger,  and  rules  even  in  the  house  of  death  I 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

MARY  AND  LUCY 

ABOUT  noon  of  the  same  day,  when  the  events  happened  that 
have  been  detailed  at  such  length  in  the  foregoing  chapter,  the 
agitation  among  the  bandits,  at  the  residence  of  their  chief,  fully 
equalled,  if  it  could  not  surpass  that  which  prevailed  at  the 
headquarters  of  their  mortal  enemies,  the  Regulators.  Every 
arrangement  had  been  made  for  a  desperate  resistance  against 
any  assault ;  whether  from  the  mob  or  the  militia  of  the 
Republic,  and  every  one  seemed  determined  to  hold  the  position 
or  perish  in  its  ruins  ;  since  an  inevitable  death  of  shame  would 
follow  a  surrender. 

Captain  Carlyle,  Lieutenant  Curran,  Colonel  Miles,  and  all 
the  most  intelligent  and  trustworthy  members  of  the  felonious 
party  were  collected  in  the  library  engaged  in  consultation. 
The  two  former  presented  their  ordinary  coolness  and  self-posses 
sion,  while  the  father  of  Mary  seemed  unusually  sad  and  gloomy. 

At  length  their  discussion  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance 
of  Dublin  Jack  who  announced,  "  Captain,  thar's  a  man  out 
yonder,  what  has  hailed  the  sentinels,  and  sez  he's  come  from  old 
Houston." 

2T5 


276  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

11  Did  he  give  his  name  ?  "inquired  Carlyle,  eagerly. 
**  "  No,  but  he's  got  yer  pass-word,  and  axed  wbur  mout  be 
the  moon." 

"  Show  him  in,"  ordered  the  chief  hastily,  and  his  black  eyes 
sparkled  with  fiery  animation. 

In  a  brief  space,  the  stranger  crossed  the  threshold  and 
saluted  the  several  robbers  by  name  as  if  they  had  been  old 
and  familiar  acquaintances.  He  was  a  stout,  heavy,  red-faced 
man,  with  common  features,  and  sharp  grey  eyes,  restless  and 
scrutinizing  in  their  glanoes,  at  once  expressing  shrewdness, 
cunning,  and  suspicion.  He  wore  the  uniform  of  the  Red  Land 
Rangers,  with  the  shoulder-knot  indicating  his  rank  as  a  major, 
and  walked  with  a  proud  martial  strut,  which  contrasted  ludic 
rously  with  his  squat,  awkward  figure,  and  coarse,  angular 
visage. 

'•'How  are  you  getting  along,  boys?"  asked  the  messenger  in 
a  friendly  tone;  "I  see  that  you  stand  ready  for  the  tug  of 
war?" 

"  Let  us  have  your  own  news,,  at  once,  Major  Thorn,"  urged 
Carlyle  impatiently. 

"  It  is  bad  enough  Heaven  knows,"  said  the  other,  in  lament 
able  accents  ;  "  the  President  is  on  the  march,  with  half  a  thous 
and  men,  and  he  is  awfully  enraged  against  the  outlaws  of 
Tanaha,  as  he  invariably  terms  your  people." 

"  How  near  is  the  army  ?  " 

"  In  Shelbyville,  by  this  time." 

At  this  unexpected  answer,  the  bandits  uttered  a  simultaneous 
ejaculation  of  surprise,  and  the  Captain  sprung  to  his  feet, 


MART   AND   LUCY.  27 1 

f- 

exclaiming  ;  "  then  we  shall  be  attacked  before  the  middle  of 
the  afternoon." 

"  There  is  no  fear  of  that,"  answered  Major  Thorn,  with  confi- 
dene  ;  "  for  when  General  Houston  heard  that  the  lynchers 
were  preparing  to  hang  Judge  Moore,  he  changed  his  immediate 
destination,  and  is  now  pushing  on  the  whole  force  of  Rangers 
and  Red  Landers  to  storm  old  Morrow's  fortress." 

"  How  did  he  chance  to  dispense  with  your  valuable  services  ?" 
interrogated  Carlyle,  in  tones  of  latent  sarcasm.  ^ 

"  Oh,  he  sent  me  to  you,  with  an  important  message,"  replied 
the  other,  with  a  cunning  gleam  in  his  unquiet  grey  eyes. 

"  Then,  why  do  you  not  discharge  your  lofty  mission,  dear 
Major  ?  "  said  the  bandit. 

"  That  may  be  soon  done,  as  it  is  so  brief,  and  to  the  point," 
affirmed  the  officer  ;  "  in  plain  terms,  the  President  has  deputed 
me  to  command  you  all,  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
Republic  of  Texas,  to  surrender  yourselves  at  discretion,  and 
stand  your  trials  for  robbery  and  murder,  and  if  you  fail  in 
obedience  to  the  order,  then,  he  swears  that  every  one  of  you 
shall  be  exterminated  without  mercy,  under  the  horrors  of 
martial  law  1 " 

"  By  Heaven  1  he,  and  many  of  his  own  men  shall  ^bite  the 
dust  with  bloody  mouths,  before  that  day  shall  dawn  I"  cried 
Carlyle,  with  a  murderous  light  in  his  eyes  ;  "  we  can  maintain 
this  position  until  our  friends  arrive  from  Arkansas,  and  then 
we  shall  see  who  will  boast  the  loudest." 

"  You  cannot  hold  this  house  half  a  day  against  Houston  and 
the  Rangers  1"  declared  the  major,  solemnly,  "  and  more  than 


278       BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OP  THE  TAN  AHA. 

that,  they  can  batter  it  down  without  so  much  as  losing  a 
man  1" 

"  How  !  what  the  devil  do  you  mean  ?"  shouted  all  the  rob 
bers  in  fright  and  amazement. 

"  I  mean,  simply,  that  they  have  brought  a  piece  of  artillery 
along  with  them." 

"Then  we  are,  indeed,  lost,"  complained  Colonel  Miles,  in 
despairing  accents,  while  the  others,  with  pallid  features,  stood 
as  if  utterly  stupified  by  the  intelligence. 

The  captain  first  recovered  from  the  astounding  shock,  as  the 
fire  in  his  dark  eyes  blazed  afresh,  and  he  said,  in  tones  of  despe 
rate  determination,  "  Well,  we  still  have  until  to-morrow,  to 
throw  up  works  for  our  defence,  and  we  may  triumph  yet." 

"  It  would  be  madness  to  attempt  such  an  act  of  folly,"  urged 
Thornton,  "  thousands  of  Texans  would  shortly  surround  you, 
and  cut  off  all  possibility  of  retreat.  You  must  be  insane,  as 
old  Morrow  is  himself,  to  think  of  defying  the  whole  power  of 
the  republic  !" 

"  Then  what  would  you  advise  ?"  demanded  the  chief,  sharply, 
"  to  give  ourselves  up,  and  die  the  death  of  dogs  ?" 

"  By  no  means,"  responded  the  officer,  earnestly.  "  I  do  not 
confer  on  my  friends  such  indifferent  counsel.  You  have  but 
one  safe  course  left  ;  escape  with  your  slaves,  and  hide  in  the 
swamps,  until  the  tempest  shall  have  blown  over,  and  the  Pre 
sident  returns  to  the  seat  of  government." 

"  That  is  the  only  chance,"  ejaculated  Mary's  father,  in  tremu 
lous  accents,  and  with  many  tokens  of  terror. 

"Colonel,  I  am  truly  astonished  to  find  you  so  faint-hearted 


MAKY   AND    LUCY.  2t9 

in  the  presence  of  danger,"  remarked  the  captain,  with  a  con 
temptuous  look. 

"  I  feel  no  more  alarm  on  my  own  account,  than  you  do  your 
self,"  retorted  Miles,  angrily,  "  but  I  tremble  to  reflect  on  the 
fate  of  my  daughter." 

"Never  mind;  I'll  take  special  care  of  the  lovely  girl," 
answered  Carlyle,  with  a  sneer. 

Lieutenant  Curran  interposed.  "  Let  us  have  no  discord 
among  ourselves  to  render  the  crisis  more  perilous.  I  am 
perfectly  satisfied  that  Major  Thornton's  advice  is  the  best.  In 
truth,  we  have  no  c$her  choice  remaining  but  to  adopt  it,  or 
stay,  and  be  penned  up  like  a  herd  of  hogs  for  the  slaughter. 
So,  I  move  for  the  freedom  of  the  wild  woods  and  green 
bowers  of  tufted  cane,  with  birds  to  make  us  music,  and  the 
starry  heavens  for  our  chandelier." 

As  all  the  council  of  robbers  concurred  in  this  more  rational 
view  of  the  case,  except  the  chief,  after  many  earnest  remon 
strances,  he  finally  yielded  an  unwilling  acquiescence,  and  the 
plan  was  fixed  to  be  carried  out  the  ensuing  night.  Major 
Thornton  then  took  his  leave,  with  the  promise  to  inform  the 
black  band,  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion  might  offer,  of  every 
thing  that  concerned  their  interest,  in  the  movements  of  the 
army. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Lucy  and  Mary,  from  the  window  of  their 
room,  had  noticed  the  approach  and  departure  of  the  officer, 
and  the  former  observed  to  her  companion,  "See,  there  goes 
one  of  Carlyle's  most  unscrupulous  tools,  although  he  wears  the 
uniform  of  a  Texan  officer." 


280       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"I  am  truly  astonished  to  hear  you  say  so,"  answered  the 
other. 

"  But  that  is  not  all,"  continued  Lucy,  "  for  the  felons  have 
managed  to  fill  several  civil  posts  with  their  creatures,  and  have 
members  and  spies  scattered  all  over  the  country.  Their 
scheme  is  one  of  the  most  stupendous  ever  devised  by  such 
outlaws." 

"  I  shudder  to  think  of  their  power,"  replied  Mary,  with  sad 
emotion,  "  and  especially  as  I  am  now  their  hopeless  captive, 
and  even  slave." 

"  We  must  escape,  if  practicable,  this  evening,"  said  Lucy, 
"  for  Comanche  Ben  thinks  that  the  house  will  be  attacked  by 
the  Rangers  in  the  morning,  and  if  the  robbers  should  be  forced 
to  retreat,  they  will  be  sure  to  carry  us  off  with  them." 

"  Are  you  certain  that  the  Indian  will  prove  faithful  to  us  ?" 
asked  the  young  girl,  with  a  look  of  suspicion. 

"  As  much  so  as  I  am  of  my  own  existence,"  affirmed  Lucy, 
without  hesitation. 

The  two  conversed  but  little  more  during  the  day,  but  wan 
dered  restlessly  in  the  wilderness  of  their  separate  and  solitary 
thoughts,  which  appeared  wild  and  gloomy  in  the  extreme, 
unblessed  even  by  a  single  flower  of  hope,  or  a  lonely  ray  of 
happiness.  The  melancholy  mistress  of  Carlyle,  however,  had 
the  advantage  of  possessing  an  object  in  her  dark  meditations 
of  revenge,  and  she  paced  the  floor  with  unquiet  steps,  impatient 
for  the  doom  of  her  victim  ;  often  muttering  unconsciously  to 
herself,  or  pausing  with  a  lurid  smile,  as  if  gazing  at  some 
image  painted  in  the  air.  For  every  passion  of  the  human 


MARY   AND   LUCY.  281 

heart  embodies  itself  in  fancy  pictures,  as  vivid  as  sunlight  to 
the  sharp  eye  of  the  imagination  ;  and  the  phantoms,  ever  pre 
sent  now  to  the  woman's  mental  sight,  assumed  the  form  of  a 
grim  gallows-tree,  with  the  figure  of  her  unfaithful  lover  dang 
ling  from  the  lofty  limb. 

Mary,  on  the  other  hand,  indulged  a  thousand  changing  day 
dreams  as  to  the  destiny  of  her  absent  idol  ;  but  continually  the 
sneering  visage  of  the  outlaw  mingled  in  all  her  reveries,  thrust 
ing  itself  between  her  and  the  promised  bridal.  Indeed,  she 
had  but  too  much  cause  to  fear  the  cruel  desperation  of  the 
bandit. 

The  feelings  of  the  young  girl  towards  her  companion,  were 
of  a  strange,  indefinable,  and  contradictory  character.  She 
admired  her  amazing  beauty,  pitied  her  marvellous  misfortunes, 
and  experienced  the  warmest  gratitude  for  her  sympathy  and 
kindness  ;  but  still  the  repulsion  more  than  equalled  the  attrac 
tion  ;  for  she  could  not  suppress  her  deep  abhorrence,  either  of 
the  crimes  that  the  other  had  already  committed,  or  the  cruel 
vengeance  which  still  brooded  in  her  bosom.  She  could  not 
even  imagine  how  this  boundless,  burning  hatred  could  find  a 
habitation  in  the  soul,  once  illumined  with  the  divine  light  of  the 
tenderest,  truest  love  ;  and  as  she  surveyed  the  fierce  smile  on 
those  fair  features,  and  the  arrowy  fires  of  the  glittering  black 
eyes,  she  felt,  as  if  in  the  presence  of  some  supernatural,  or  dia* 
bolical  agent,  belonging  to  a  different  order  from  the  creatures 
of  human  clay,  and  predestined  to  horrible  fatalities.  Even  the 
sound  of  her  wild,  bewitching  voice  seemed  unearthly,  and  with 
out  resemblance  to  the  tones  of  mortal  speech  ;  and  she  could 


282  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OP   THE   TANAHA. 

not  forget  that  this  had  been  the  wife  of  the  murdered  Juan 
Gordo,  and  that  she  herself  was  the  daughter  of  one  of  the 
assassins  ;  and  thus  by  a  natural  law  governing  the  association 
of  ideas,  she  could  not  look  upon  her  new  friend  without  a  pain 
ful  tremor. 

At  length,  the  sun  declined,  and  the  dark  purple  shadows  of 
twilight  fell  over  field  and  forest,  while,  here  and  there,  the 
eternal  beauty  of  the  stars  began  to  beam  with  pale  fires  in  the 
firmament. 

"Now,  let  us  go  forth,  under  pretense  of  a  brief  stroll," 
whispered  Lucy,  as  she  filled  her  bosom  and  the  pockets  of  her 
dress,  with  handfuls  of  jewels  and  gold  coins. 

The  two  women  then  put  on  their  cloaks,  without  bonnets, 
in  order  to  allay  suspicion  as  to  their  purpose,  and  descending 
into  the  parlor,  where  they  found  no  one,  passed  out  into  the 
yard.  Here,  they  were  both  alike  struck  by  the  appearance  of 
hurry  and  bustle,  and  the  evident  preparations  for  a  general 
removal.  Hundreds  of  horses  stood  bridled  and  saddled,  bur 
dened  with  heavy  packs,  as  if  for  an  immediate  journey,  while 
utensils  for  cooking,  and  various  articles  of  light  furniture,  lay 
scattered  about  in  all  directions.  Even  the  slaves  had  been  col 
lected  in  front  of  the  door,  and  each  ebon  hand  bore  its  bundle 
of  clothing. 

"  What  can  it  all  mean  ?"  asked  Mary,  in  a  whisper,  and 
trembling  with  nameless  apprehension. 

"The  robbers  are  going  to  retreat,"  replied  the  other  ;  "let 
us  glide  away  as  fast  as  we  can,  without  attracting  observa 
tion." 


MARY   AND   LUCY.  283 

At  the  moment,  the  rude  tones  of  Dublin  Jack  hailed 
them  : 

"  Whur  ar'  you  guyin',  gals  ?  The  captain  ordered  us  not  to 
allow  nobody  to  leave  these  diggins,  till  we  all  go  in  a  pile." 

"  Where  is  your  leader  now  ?"  interrogated  Lucy  in  a  careless 
voice. 

"  Gone  out  fur  a  walk,  I  'spose." 

"  Well,  we  wish  to  take  a  little  turn  around  the  field.     You 
need  not  be  afraid  of  our  running  off  without  our  bonnets, 
remarked  Lucy  with  an  affected  laugh. 

"  Then,  be  in  a  hurry  about  it,  for  we're  all  to  make  tracks  in 
five  minutes,"  said  the  desperado. 

The  females  hastened  forwards,  in  a  line  diverging  from  the 
main  road,  in  the  direction  of  the  fence  near  the  bank  of  the 
Tanaha.  This  they  gained  without  interruption,  and  were  about 
to  cross  over  into  the  forest,  when  they  came  suddenly  upon 
Lieutenant  Curran. 

"  Where  now,  ladies  ? "  inquired  the  robber  in  surprise  ; 
"these  are  dangerous  times  for  romantic  rambles  by  starlight." 

"  We  are  seeking  for  a  few  sweet  mouthfuls  of  the  cool  even 
ing  air,"  suggested  Lucy,  with  her  usual  presence  of  mind. 

"  I  am  afraid,  that  you  will  get  more  than  you  want  before 
the  noon  of  night,"  rejoined  Curran ;  "  I  suppose  that  the 
captain  has  informed  you  of  the  intended  emigration  ?" 

"  No  ;  but  we  will  be  back  in  a  few  minutes,  and  then  you  can 
tell  us  the  facts."  responded  the  woman,  as  she  and  the  young 
girl  turned  towards  the  road. 

"  Pardon  the  impoliteness,"  said  the  lieutenant  interposing  ; 


284       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  I  fear,  that  the  chief  will  be  very  angry  if  I  suffer  you 
to  escape,  for  such  is  evidently  your  object." 

During  the  previous  dialogue,  Mary  had  quivered  with  the 
dread  of  this  inevitable  arrest,  and  now,  almost  without  the  con 
sciousness  of  her  acts,  she  implored  the  young  man  : 

"  Oh  1  for  pity's  sake  do  not  detain  us.  I  have  never  harmed 
you,  and  it  cannot  advance  your  interest  or  happiness  to  break 
my  heart.  I  would  rather  die  than  be  the  prisoner  of  your  cruel 
captain,  who  has  the  baseness  to  seek  by  force  the  hand  of  a  girl 
that  abhors  him  1" 

"Well,  you  may  proceed,  ladies,  without  molestation  from 
me.  It  is  my  misfortune  to  be  a  robber,  but  nature  will  not 
permit  me  to  be  a  ruffian  also." 

The  maiden  faltered  her  thanks,  and  again  the  companions 
hastened  to  reach  the  woods,  rejoicing  greatly  at  the  unexpected 
generosity  of  Curran.  They  soon  crossed  the  fence,  a  short  dis 
tance  from  the  farm-gate,  and  began  to  consider  themselves  safe, 
when  another  incident  opposed  their  progress. 

Suddenly  a  shrill  whistle  pierced  the  silent  ear  of  night,  and 
a  hoarse  voice  shouted  : 

"  Thar's  sumthen  in  the  bushes,  boys,  see  what  it  is." 

"  Whar  ?  whar  ?"  inquired  half-a-dozen  others. 

"Thar,  under  the  big  pine-tree;  close  up  round  the  place 
quick,  and  shoot  if  anybody  starts  to  run  off." 

The  two  females  crouched  down  beneath  a  small  shrub,  and 
endeavored  to  cover  themselves  with  its  leafy  mantle  of  luxu 
riant  wild  vines,  while  they  could  almost  hear  as  well  as  feel  the 
tumultuous  and  terrible  throbbings  of  their  own  agitated  hearts, 


MARY   AND   LUCY.  285 

as  the  brush  on  all  sides  rustled  and  cracked  louder  and  nearer 
to  their  hiding-place,  till,  at  last,  one  of  the  men  stood  within 
three  feet  of  their  bodies. 

"  I  don't  see  nuthen  at  all  here,  whatsumever,"  cried  the 
robber,  and  turned  to  depart. 

"  Wait  thar  till  I  come  and  look,"  ordered  the  first  voice,  and 
the  moment  afterwards  two  more  approached  the  bush  which 
served  to  screen  the  fugitives. 

"  Here  it  is,  and  a  gal,  too,  or  I'll  be  switched,"  exclaimed 
Roaring  Dick,  as  with  a  grip  of  his  iron  fingers  he  dragged  the 
young  girl,  more  dead  than  alive,  from  the  curtain  of  tangled 
vines. 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  inquired  the  outlaw,  rudely,  "  and  what 
brung  you  into  the  brush  like  a  possum  ?" 

Mary  was  too  horribly  frightened  to  articulate  a  syllable, 
when  Lucy  sprang  out  with  a  merry  ringing  laugh,  exclaiming, 
"  Well,  Roaring  Dick,  confess  the  truth,  did  we  not  scare 
you  T1 

"Scare  the  devil  !"  ejaculated  the  robber  ;  "but  I  want  to 
know  what  you're  doing  out  here  in  the  woods,  arter  dark, 
instead  of  packin'  up  your  traps  at  the  house,  for  the  cane  ?" 

"We  were  amusing  ourselves  with  a  short  evening  walk, 
when  we  heard  you,  and  thought  of  this  slight  frolic  ;  but  were 
you  not  really  alarmed  ?" 

Before  the  other  could  reply,  the  piercing  tones  of  a  bugle 
sounded  from  the  block-house,  and  then  came  the  thundering 
echoes  of  horses  galloping  over  the  field  in  all  directions.  Mary 
staggered  with  terror,  for  she  felt  that  their  absence  had  been 


286  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE    TAN  AHA. 

discovered,  and  that  these  tokens  indicated  a  determined  pur 
suit.  But  Lucy  spoke  in  calm  accents.  "  Come,  Miss  Miles, 
let  us  now  return  ;  our  friends  may  be  uneasy  on  our  account. 
Good  bye,  Dick,  and  pardon  the  fright  that  we  gave  you." 

"  By  thunder  !  you  leave  not  this  spot  without  ray  company," 
declared  the  desperado.  "  You  had  started  to  run  away,  that's 
the  fac';  but  I've  grabbed  you,  and  you'll  not  git  loose  till  I  put 
you  in  the  clutches  of  our  captain." 

In  vain  the  females  pleaded  and  protested.  Roaring  Dick 
seized  a  hand  of  each,  and  hurried  them  onwards  through  the 
gate  to  the  dwelling.  Colonel  Miles  and  the  chief  of  the  gang 
received  the  refugees  at  the  door  with  lowering  looks,  and  as 
soon  as  they  reached  the  parlor,  the  storm  of  wrath  broke  forth. 

"  Lucy,  what  means  this  conduct  ?"  exclaimed  Carlyle,  nearly 
beside  himself  with  passion.  * 

"  Why,  what  have  I  done  ?"  asked  the  artful  woman,  in  tones 
of  blended  surprise  and  innocence. 

"  What  reason  induced  you  two  to  wander  out  after  dark, 
and  even  into  the  forest  ?" 

"  Have  I  not  always  been  accustomed  to  Such  evening  ram 
bles  ?"  urged  Lucy. 

"  But  wherefore  did  you  endeavor  to  conceal  yourselves  from 
my  men  ?" 

"  Simply  because  we  could  not  know,  in  the  darkness  of  the 
woods,  whose  men  they  were." 

Finding  that  every  one  of  his  own  guns  was  turned  against 
him,  and  deceived  by  the  apparent  truthfulness  of  Lucy's 
manner,  the  captain  wavered,  but,  nevertheless,  tried  a  last 


MART   AND   LUCY.  287 

shot.     "  Why  did  you  go  out,  when  you  must  have  been  sure 
that  I  did  not  wish  it  ?" 

"Brother,  dear,  you  must  be  crazy,"  said  the  pretended 
sister,  with  a  smile,  "for  I  never  before  heard  an  objection  to 
my  usual  strolls." 

"But  you  knew  of  our  intention  to  remove  from  here  to 
night." 

"  Did  you  tell  me  ?" 

„"  That  is  true  ;  forgive  this  hasty  suspicion,"  remarked  the 
chief,  after  a  moment's  reflection,  "and  now  get  ready  for  a 
night  journey.  We  must  retreat  from  the  accursed  Rangers, 
and  the  devil  only  can  foresee  when  we  shall  return." 

Lucy  and  Mary  hastened  instantly  to  their  room,  when  the 
mistress  of  the  robber  clasped  the  young  girl's  hand  affection 
ately,  and  insisted  :  "  IJp  not  resign  yourself  to  despair,  my 
dear  friend.  We  will  foil  the  villain  yet,  by  using  the  proper 
coolness  and  cunning.  He  will  have  many  opportunities  of  con 
versing  with  you  during  our  excursion,  and  I  implore  you,  as 
you  would  hope  to  see  your  own  true  love  again,  do  not  irritate 
the  outlaw  by  useless  insult.  If  he  presses  his  suit,  procrasti 
nate  a  decisive  answer  ;  for  every  day  and  hour  brings  him 
nearer  to  his  inevitable  doom.  I  have  more  than  one  confidant 
among  his  gang,  and  if  he  tries  force  rather  than  persuasion, 
that  second  he  shall  die.  Be  prudent,  be  hopeful,  and  fear  no 
harm.  Will  you  follow  my  advice  ?" 

"  Yes,"  murmured  Mary,  in  a  faint  tone,  through  her  tears  ; 
and  they  dressed  themselves  for  their  disagreeable  travel,  and 
soon  the  whole  party  moved  forwards. 


288  EANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

It  took  some  time  to  ferry  over  the  Sabine,  and  the  colonel 
and  captain,  with  the  two  females,  crossed  last.  As  they 
reached  the  top  of  the  opposite  bank,  an  extraordinary  scene 
was  presented.  The  entire  company  of  three  hundred  desperate 
men  stood  huddled  together,  like  a  flock  of  frightened  sheep, 
apparently  stupified  and  distracted  by  supernatural  horror. 
Their  teeth  chattered,  their  eyes  rolled  wildly  in  the  darkness, 
and  their  very  lips  seemed  frozen  beyond  the  power  to  breathe 
so  much  as  a  whisper.  • 

"  Forward,  march  !"  exclaimed  Carlyle,  but  not  a  foot  stirred, 
and  some  of  the  more  timid  leaped  from  their  saddles,  and 
crouched  upon  the  earth,  as  if  to  hide  from  some  terrible  vision. 

"  Fools  and  cowards  1  what  is  the  matter  ?  have  you  lost 
your  senses,  or  seen  a  ghost  ?"  thundered  the  captain,  unable  to 
conceive  the  reason  of  this  unaccountable  conduct. 

Roaring  Dick  drew  near  his  leader,  and  pointing  with  a  trem 
ulous  finger  at  something  about  twenty-five  paces  distant,  by  the 
side  of  the  road,  gasped  an  awful  whisper  : 

"  Look  there  !" 

The  chief  turned  his  eyes  in  the  direction  indicated,  and  sud 
denly  shook  like  a  leaf  in  the  hurricane,  while  the  clear  starlight 
on  his  features  showed  them  livid  as  those  of  a  corpse. 

Indeed,  the  spectacle  was  enough  to  strike  the  heart  of  the 
murderer  with  unimaginable  amazement  and  horror.  For  there, 
on  the  very  spot,  where  he  had  buried  a  pair  of  victims,  stood 
two  tall  forms  in  the  human  shape,  wrapped  in  long  winding- 
sheets,  white  as  the  driven  snow,  motionless,  silent,  awful  to 
behold. 


MARY    AND    LUCY.  289 

"  Them  ar'  Parson  Cole  and  Bob  Bennet  !''  faltered  Dick, 
scarcely  daring  to  draw  his  breath. 

"  And  is  it  even  so  ?"  muttered  Carlyle,  with  cold,  quivering 
lips  ;  can  the  souls  of  the  slain  recross  the  ferry  of  the  dark 
river  to  haunt  their  bloody  graves  ?  Is  there  truly  a  world  of 
spirits,  and  do  the  dead,  indeed,  never  die  ?  Must  we  meet  on 
the  shore  of  shadows,  the  men  that  we  have  murdered  on  the 
earth  ?  It  is  too  horrible  1" 

How  wildly  wonderful  is  the  emotion  of  mighty  Fear,  whether 
it  builds  its  black  house  of  horror  on  the  arches  of  the  infant 
mind  ;  or  weaves  the  wizard's  web  of  superstition  for  the  pall  of 
numberless  nations  ;  or  works  its  icy  agony  in  the  mystic  depths 
of  the  individual  heart ;  or  waves  its  pale  sceptre  in  the  silent  air, 
and  the  world  of  living  men  cower  in  the  dust ;  or  thunders  in  the 
rear  of  routed  armies,  as  if  all  the  devils  in  the  hold  of  hell  were 
in  the  chase  ;  or  smites  the  conquering  hero's  knees,  like  an  earth 
quake,  in  the  very  crisis  of  victory  ;  or  fills  the  asylum  of  the 
insane  ;  or  peoples  the  weird  solitude  of  dreams,  with  phantoms 
of  death  and  demons  !  Everywhere,  and  ever,  it  is  still  the  same 
mystery  of  a  madness,  as  universal  as  man  ! 

At  length,  Lieutenant  Curran,  who  had  paused  to  water  his 
horse,  ascended  the  bank,  and,  astonished  at  the  appearance  of 
the  band,  cried  out : 

"  Captain,  why  do  not  you  move  on  ?" 

The  other  spoke  not,  but  pointed  his  shaking  finger  at  the 
hideous  apparitions. 

J3urran  burst  into  a  loud  laugh,  exclaiming  : 

13 


290  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF    THE    TAN  AHA. 

"  Well,  boys,  have  you  found  a  pair  of  ghosts  at  last  ?  I 
uever  heard  before  .that  such  animals  hunted  in  couples  !" 

In  such  cases  of  general  consternation,  the  sound  of  one  fear 
less,  ringing  voice,  usually  breaks  the  force  of  the  icy  spell  ;  and 
so  it  operated  with  the  robbers.  Many  of  them  began  to  con 
clude  that  these  ghostly  figures  must  either  be  optical  illusions, 
or  perhaps,  white  stumps,  that  they  had  never  noticed  previ 
ously  ;  but  a  respectable  minority  still  persisted  in  their  horrify 
ing  faith. 

"  Them  ar'  Parson  Cole  and  Bob  Bennet,  lieutenant,  for 
sartan  I"  affirmed  Roaring  Dick,  recovering  sufficient  courage  to 
use  his  tongue. 

"  Come  on,  boys,  and  let  us  speak  to  them,"  said  Curran, 
riding  to  the  front,  and  hailing  the  objects.  "  Who  are  ye, 
melancholy  forms  that  hover  above  the  bones  of  the  dead  ? 
answer,  or  by  Heaven,  I'll  put  a  bullet  through  your  night 
gowns  !" 

There  was  no  response  ;  and  the  lieutenant  discharged  his 
pistol  ;  but  the  white  robed  apparitions  remained  immovable  and 
silent  as  ever. 

"There  is  one  comfort,  at  least,  if  they  be  ghosts,  they  do  not 
seem  to  be  armed,  or  else  they  would  return  the  fire,"  laughed 
Curran  ;  "  and  now,  men,  do  as  I  command,  and  at  the  word, 
deal  them  a  volley.  Make  ready — take  aim — fire  !" 

The  roar  of  the  entire  platoon,  pealed  like  thunder  on  the  still 
air  of  night,  and  awakened  ten  thousand  sleeping  echoes  in  the 
old  woods,  which  rung  again  ;  but  when  the  smoke  cleared 


MARY   AND   LUCY.  291 

and  the  figures  once  more  became  visible,  a  hundred  voices 
uttered  wild  exclamations  of  dismay  and  terror. 

The  apparitions  still  kept  their  position  over  the  ashes  of  the 
murdered  men,  but  they  were  no  longer  motionless.  They 
swayed  back  and  forwards,  waving  their  long  skeleton  arms,  as 
if  to  warn  the  robbers  away  from  this  haunted  ground  ! 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  them  wur  no  bein's  of  flesh  and  blood  !" 
gasped  Roaring  Dick ;  "  them  ar'  things  that  the  biggest  cannon 
couldn't  bring  down  !" 

"  I'll  soon  see  what  stuff  they  are  made  of,"  shouted  Curran, 
as  he  sprung  from  his  horse,  and  rushed  upon  the  ghosts,  while 
the  others  held  their  breath,  expecting,  every  instant,  to  behold 
those  shaking,  shadowy  arms  grasp  their  adventurous  victim,  and 
fly  away  with  him  bodily. 

Suddenly  the  lieutenant  bore  down  the  two  figures,  and 
exclaimed,  with  boisterous  laughter  : 

"  Come  on,  boys,  I  have  conquered  the  spectres." 

They  were,  indeed,  nothing  but  shapes  having  the  human 
outline,  formed  of  masculine  clothing,  sewed  together,  and 
stuffed  with  cotton.  Being  suspended  on  slender  sticks,  whicli 
many  bullets  of  the  volley  had  struck,  the  collision  had  caused 
that  wavering  motion  that  had  so  frightened  the  bandits. 

"  Did  you  arrange  this  piece  of  folly,  Curran  ?"  demanded  the 
chief,  with  much  severity  of  tone  and  manner. 

"  No,  captain,  upon  my  sacred  honor,"  replied  the  lieutenant 
earnestly. 

H|  I  ordered  Comanche  Ben  to  do  it/'  whisper.ed  Lucy  in  the 
ear  of  Mary. 


292        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AH  A. 

Indeed,  Carlyle  felt  almost  as  great  fear  now,  although  of  a 
different  kind,  as  he  had  previously  experienced,  while  under  the 
impression  that  he  saw  weird  visitants  from  the  ghostly  world. 
None  of  his  own  band  could  have  done  this,  he  well  knew, 
from  their  unfeigned  fright,  and  besides,  it  was  dangerous  to 
them  all — this  evident  indication  of  a  bloody  secret,  which  they 
had  buried  in  the  earth.  It  must  then  have  been  some  enemy, 
who  had  learned  the  mystery  of  a  murder,  for  which  he  might 
yet  be  called  to  suffer  the  death-penalty  of  the  violated  law  1 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

MAJOR  MORROW  AND  JOANNA. 

Two  distinguished  phrenologists,  Doctors  Powel  and  Buchanan 
of  Cincinnati,  have,  at  different  times,  travelled  all  over  the 
western  frontier,  and  both  gave  the  same  reason  for  their  tour 
of  observation,  that  they  could  find  more  angular  heads,  more 
organs  of  strongly  defined  character  here  in  these  remote  woods, 
than  in  countries  under  the  restraints  of  civilization. 

The  causes,  producing  this  general  fact,  are  obvious.  The 
first  emigrants  to  the  wilderness,  must,  of  necessity,  possess  both 
perseverance  and  prowess,  in  an  eminent  degree,  to  dare  the 
difficulties  and  dangers  which  oppose  the  progress  of  the  pioneer  ; 
who  must  do  battle  with  wild  beasts  and  wilder  men,  while  he 
wars  with  the  very  elements  for  existence  itself.  Feeble  souls 
never  venture  into  such  a  contest,  or  at  least,  fly  at  the  outset 
of  the  struggle.  The  circumstances  surrounding  the  settlers, 
also  tend  unceasingly  to  the  development  of  marked  peculiarities. 
Death-defying  courage  is  the  dominant  principle  in  society,  and 
the  only  avenue  to  influence,  fame,  and  fortune,  and  more  than 
all,  the  trammels  of  law,  custom,  and  public  opinion,  being 


294       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

removed,  the  instincts,  and  original  passions  of  the  man,  are  left 
free  for  their  unfettered  and  natural  growth  and  utmost  expan 
sion,  without  hindrance  or  an  attempt  at  concealment.  Every 
person  follows  the  primitive  and  hereditary  bent  of  his  own 
mind,  and  shows  what  he  is,  in  his  countenance  and  conduct. 

Perhaps,  there  could  not  have  been  found  in  all  the  forests  of 
the  frontier,  a  more  strange  and  striking  example  of  the  truths 
just  stated,  that  that  which  was  afforded  by  the  eventful  history 
of  the  arch-lyncher,  Major  Morrow.  More  than  twenty-five 
years  before  his  culmination  in  Texas,  he  had  rendered  his  name 
famous,  or  more  properly  notorious,  throughout  Missouri. 

His  father  was  a  small  farmer,  some  miles  below  St  Louis, 
on  the  Mississippi  river,  and  sustained  an  excellent  character 
among  his  rude  and  humble  neighbors,  for  honest  and  orderly 
behavior.  But  from  his  earliest  boyhood,  young  Jack  utterly 
ignored  the  paths  of  peaceful  labor,  and  took  to  the  woods,  as 
naturally  as  an  Indian,  with  his  gun  and  dogs ;  and  by  the  time 
he  had  seen  his  eighteenth  summer,  he  was  a  mighty  hunter — tho 
unrivalled  Nimrod  of  his  native  State. 

At  this  period,  an  incident,  happened  to  arouse  within  his  fiery 
bosom  the  most  powerful  passion  which  can  sway  the  human 
heart,  either  for  good  or  evil.  An  English  family  settled  in  the 
vicinity,  who  astonished  the  ignorant  populace,  as  well  by  the  ele 
gant  refinement  of  their  manners,  as  by  their  superior  acquire 
ments  in  knowledge.  The  head  of  the  household  announced  him 
self  and  his  accomplished  lady  as  physicians,  and  very  soon  the 
celebrity  of  the  new  doctors,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewville,  rung  in 
everybody's  mouth.  They  were  a  proud,  haughty  couple,  although 


MAJOR    MORROW   AND    JOANNA.  295 

poor,  and  notwithstanding  their  scrupulous  politeness,  their 
mutual  appearance  expressed  gloom  and  melancholy,  as  if  they 
had  felt  in  former  years,  the  shock  of  some  great  misfortune,  and 
could  not  resign  themselves  to  their  fate. 

They  had  an  only  daughter,  their  common  idol,  of  such 
remarkable  beauty  as  to  bewilder  and  fascinate  the  most  cynical 
and  coldly  careless  spectator.  With  the  airy  figure  of  a  sylph, 
the  voice  of  a  siren,  the  love-smile  of  a  seraph  on  a  faultless  face, 
vivid  with  animation,  and  eyes  of  dark  light,  magical  in  all  their 
glances,  this  young  girl  carried  every  heart  by  storm.  Her  all- 
conquering  charms  had  created  an  immense  sensation  at  the 
hotel,  where  the  family  had  remained  in  St.  Louis,  for  a  few 
days  after  their  arrival  from  the  old  country,  and  several  of 
the  lovers,  who  had  there  become  infatuated  on  first  sight,  sought 
her  out  in  her  lonely  forest  home. 

Among  these  was  a  lawyer  Ellsman,  a  slender,  but  extremely 
handsome  person,  of  courtly  manners,  and  considerable  fortune, 
with  the  most  flattering  prospects  of  success  in  his  profession. 
As  soon  as  his  attentions  to  the  beautiful  stranger  became  gen 
erally  known,  all  other  competitors  abandoned  the  field,  in  fear 
and  despair ;  for  the  young  attorney,  from  his  passionate 
temperament,  and  deadly  skill  with  the  weapons  of  the  duellist, 
as  had  been  manifested  in  half-a-dozen  terrible  combats,  was 
dreaded  by  the  bravest  chivalry  of  Missouri,  and  no  one  wished 
to  risk  his  life  against  a  marksman,  who  could  split  his  bullet  on 
a  knife-blade  at  twelve  paces  ! 

There  was,  however,  a  pair  of  solitary  eyes,  that  watched  the 
visits  of  the  lawyer  to  the  dwelling  of  his  charmer,  with  the 


296  BANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF    THE    TANAHA. 

burning  glances  of  a  jealous  rage,  unmixed  with  sentiments  of 
fear.  The  residence  of  Doctor  Dewville  was  a  mile  below  that 
of  the  Morrows',  and  the  road  running  down  the  river  from  the 
metropolis  passed  by  the  door  of  the  latter. 

One  morning  as  Ellsman  was  returning  to  the  city,  after 
spending  the  night  at  the  habitation  of  his  idol,  as  he  was  riding 
beneath  an  overhanging  cliff,  about  half  way  between  the  houses 
above  mentioned,  a  strange  figure  suddenly  emerged  from  a  cav 
ern  into  the  narrow  road  before  him,  and  barred  his  passage. 
The  visage  of  the  stranger  writhed  with  such  a  look  of  unutter 
able  hatred  and  revenge,  and  his  grey  eyes  darted  such  arrows 
of  furious  fire,  and  fierce  determination,  that  even  the  duellist 
shuddered  slightly,  and  felt  in  his  pockets  for  the  pistols,  which, 
unluckily,  he  had  forgotten  to  bring  with  him. 

"  Stand  aside,  if  you  please,  and  let  me  pursue  my  journey," 
requested  Ellsman,  in  as  tranquil  and  courteous  tones  as  he 
could  master. 

"  Not  until  we  have  a  little  conversation/7  said  the  other,  in  a 
loud  hissing  whisper,  more  awful  to  hear  than  the  loudest  thun 
der-peals  of  angry  passion. 

"  Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want  with  me  ?"  inquired 
the  attorney  in  his  blandest  accents,  yet  tremulous  with  terror, 
as  he  began  to  think,  that  the  red-haired,  leather-dressed  youth 
must  be  a  maniac. 

"  My  name  is  Jack  Morrow,"  answered  the  other,  in  the  same 
murderous,  menacing  under-tone  ;  "  and  I  want  you  never  to 
visit  Doctor  Dewville's  again,  or  either  speak  or  write  to  his 
daughter." 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND   JOANNA.  297 

"  Why  I  what  is  that  to  you  ?"  exclaimed  Ellsman  in  amaze 
ment. 

"  Becaze,  I  love  her,  and  mean  to  make  her  my  wife,"  replied 
Jack,  in  a  terrible  voice. 

"  You  !"  ejaculated  the  duellist,  bursting  into  a  sneering 
laugh  at  the  ludicrous  idea,  which  completely  dissipated  his  pre 
vious  apprehensions. 

"  Yes,  me  1"  shouted  Jack,  the  hunter,  enraged  still  more  by 
the  withering  ridicule  on  the  face  of  his  proud  rival.  "  Yes, 
me  !"  he  repeated  in  tones  that  reverberated  among  the  old  grey 
rocks,  like  thunder  ;  "  and  by  Heaven  !  I'll  have  her,  in  spite  of 
a  hundred  fops  sich  as  you  I" 

"  Have  you  yet  told  her  the  sweet  story  of  your  tender  love  V 
asked  Ellsman,  with  a  look  of  burning  irony. 

"  No,  but  I'll  do  so  at  a  proper  time." 

"  I  have  no  doubt,  that  she  will  duly  appreciate  the  distin 
guished  honor,"  remarked  the  lawyer  ;  "  and  if  you  obtain  her 
own  consent,  I  shall  certainly  offer  no  objection." 

"  But  you  must  promise  me  to  let  her  alone  yerself,"  cried 
young  Morrow,  "  or  I'll  blow  out  yer  heart  this  minute  !"  and 
he  levelled  his  long  rifle  at  the  attorney's  bosom. 

The  latter  turned  mortally  pale,  and  reading  the  other's 
deadly  purpose  in  his  countenance,  signified  his  acquiescence,  but 
without  any  intention  to  keep  the  involuntary  pledge. 

The  hunter  then  drew  aside,  and  the  lawyer  went  on,  with 
feelings  of  shame  and  mortification,  which  may  be  more  easily 
conceived  than  described.  If  the  truth  must  be  recorded,  his 

13* 


298       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

fickle  affection  was  already  on  the  wane,  and  this  rude  shock 
almost  crushed  out  the  last  latent  spark. 

A  month  elapsed  before  his  next  visit,  occurring  early  in  the 
morning,  and  this  time  he  came  thoroughly  armed.  As  soon  as 
he  had  passed  the  residence  of  the  Morrows,  young  Jack  seized 
his  gun,  and  following  the  same  road,  concealed  himself  in  the 
cavern  beneath  the  cliff,  which  had  witnessed  the  former 
interview,  and  there  he  waited  impatiently  for  the  return  of  his 
rival. 

What  grounds  of  hope  could  this  rude,  common  hunter,  enter 
tain  to  win  the  hand  of  the  most  beautiful  and  accomplished 
woman  in  all  Missouri  ?  ,None  whatever  ;  nothing  but  the 
reckless  daring,  the  utter  desperation  of  passion,  the  savage  love 
of  the  human  tiger,  resolved  to  tear  in  pieces  every  competitor 
that  crossed  his  path.  He  had  never  yet  breathed  in  the  ear  of 
the  enchantress,  so  much  as  one  burning  sigh  of  his  fierce  desire, 
although  she  saw  it  all  in  his  ardent  looks,  during  his  frequent 
calls,  under  the  pretext  of  presenting  choice  specimens  of  wild 
game  to  the  doctor.  And,  although  it  could  not  be  expected 
that  she  should,  in  the  slightest,  return  the  tenderness  of  so 
coarse  a  creature,  nevertheless,  it  did  not  give  her  apparent  pain  ; 
for  when  was  ever  the  vanity  of  a  woman  offended  by  the  silent 
sacrifice  of  a  whole  bleeding  heart,  as  an  offering  upon  the  altar 
of  her  beauty,  however  homely  might  be  the  worshipper  ? 

At  length,  Jack  Morrow  heard  the  sound  of  approaching  foot 
steps,  and  glancing  from  his  hiding-place,  trembled  violently  on 
beholding  his  rival  and  the  young  girl  walking  up  the  road,  the 


MAJOR    MORROW   AND    JOANNA  299 

former  with  the  bridle  of  his  horse  upon  his  arm.  They  paused 
near  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  and  continued  the  conversation  in 
which  they  had  been  engaged  for  some  time. 

"I  tell  you,* that  we  cannot  be  married  for  a  year,  at  the 
least,"  said  the  lawyer,  with  considerable  sternness  of  manner, 
in  reply  to  some  entreaty,  which  did  not  reach  the  hunter's  ear. 

"  Oh  1  my  dearest,  you  will  surely  not  thus  violate  your 
solemn  vow,  to  which  I  have  so  rashly  trusted,"  urged  the  beau 
tiful  woman,  throwing  her  arms  wildly  around  his  neck,  and  bap 
tizing  his  bosom  with  radiant  tears. 

"  Circumstances  must  be  sometimes  allowed  to  postpone  the 
fulfillment  of  the  most  sacred  promises,  as  in  this  case,"  answered 
the  attorney,  coldly. 

"Then  indeed  I  am  lost,  and  utterly  ruined  1"  cried  the  girl  in 
tones  of  measureless  despair. 

•"  Oh  no,  women  are  not  so  easily  ruined  as  that,"  replied  the 
other  in  sneering  accents  ;  "  they  can  stand  the  loss  of  half  a 
dozen  lovers  without  half  breaking  their  elastic  hearts."  And 
he  released  himself  by  main  strength  from  her  embrace. 

Immediately  the  entire  aspect  of  the  young  maiden  changed, 
as  if  under  the  influence  of  some  devilish  transfiguration.  Her 
dark  eyes  grew  wildly  terrible,  and  shot  arrows  of  quivering 
flame.  Her  features  turned  pale  as  marble,  and  her  white  lips 
parted  in  double  curves,  like  the  coil  of  a  serpent.  She  raised 
her  hand  as  if  about  to  smite  the  lawyer  in  the  face,  and  asked 
in  a  sharp,  ringing  voice  ;  "  Sir,  I  now  ask  for  the  last  time, 
will  you  wed  me  according  to  your  promise,  or  not?" 

"  The  bridal  must  be  deferred,"  was  the  chilling  response. 


300        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  Then  it  shall  be  deferred  for  evermore  ! "  she  cried  in  fear 
ful  accents. 

"  iThat  will  please  me  just  as  well,"  he  retorted  scornfully  ; 
adding  with  a  brutal  laugh,  "in  the  meantime,"  you  may  seek 
another  suitor.  I  met  one  here,  at  this  very  spot,  on  my  last 
visit — a  fine  fellow,  dressed  in  buckskin,  with  bright  crimson  hair, 
who  boldly  avowed  that  you  should  yet  be  his  wife  ! " 

"And  so  I  will,'7  she  exclaimed,  with  an  appalling  smile  ;  but 
not  until  his  hand  sends  your  false  form  to  a  bloody  burial  1  " 
The  hunter  in  the  adjacent  cavern  cocked  his  rifle. 

"  You  will  doubtless  make  an  excellent  teacher  of  assassina 
tion  I"  said  Ellsman  bitterly. 

"  No  he  shall  hunt  you  up  in  the  public  streets,"  she  boasted, 
with  a  laugh  of  derision  more  fiendish  than  his  own  ;  "he  shall 
defy  you  and  spit  in  your  very  mouth,  and  force  you  to  meet  him 
on  the  field  of  honor  ;  and  there  he  will  have  every  drop  of  blood 
in  your  lying  heart!  " 

"  Good  bye,  Joanna  dear,  I  wish  you  happiness  in  the  arms  of 
your  new  lover  ;  but  if  you  would  enjoy  his  beauty  long,  take 
care  to  keep  him  out  of  my  way,"  cried  the  attorney,  as  he 
mounted  his  horse,  and  gallopped  away. 

The  angry  woman  gazed  after  him  with  eyes  gleaming  red,  like 
those  of  a  female  tiger,  when  suddenly  the  hunter,  Jack  Morrow, 
stood  before  her,  with  a  storm  of  mingled  love  and  wrath  contend 
ing  for  the  mastery  of  his  countenance,  which  burned  in  every 
lineament  with  flashes  of  electric  light. 

"  I  have  heard  it  all,"  he  said  in  a  horrible  whisper,  and 
pointed  toward  his  hiding-place. 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND    JOANNA.  301 

Then  quick  as  the  coming  of  a  thought,  she  cast  herself  upon 
his  bosom,  and  pressing  her  pale  lips  to  his,  wept  and  sobbed 
convulsively,  while  he  poured  out  his  own  fiery  tears  with  hers, 
in  gloomy  silence.  Neither  spoke  for  a  full  quarter  of  an  hour, 
but  clasped  each  other's  vibrating  form  in  the  ardor  of  that 
burning  embrace  ;  and  thus  they  plighted  the  marriage  contract, 
that  had  yet  to  be  sealed  with  the  blood  of  murder.  No  verbal 
pledge  was  given  or  required.  Their  hearts  alone  communicated 
with  fierce  throbbings,  and  thus  they  loved  without  words,  like 
wild  animals. 

"  Farewell,  till  to-morrow,  my  Joanna,"  articulated  the  young 
hunter,  at  last  :  "  I  must  now  be  off  to  St.  Louis,  on  our  com 
mon  errand." 

"Yes,"  she  answered  with  a  strange  smile  ;  "and  when  you 
return,  my  hand  shall  be  yours." 

Jack  Morrow  went  home  ;  prepared  his  pistols,  saddled  his 
horse,  and  hurried  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  arrived  late  in  the 
afternoon.  In  a  short  time  he  found  Ellsman's  office,  but  no 
one  came  to  the  door  in  answer  to  his  repeated  and  violent 
knocking. 

A  negro,  in  an  adjoining  tenement,  attracted  by  the  noise, 
thrust  his  head  out  of  a  window,  and  remarked  : 

"  The  'torney  ain't  in,  mas'r." 

"  When  will  he  be  back  ?"  inquired  the  hunter,  in  a  husky 
voice." 

"  I  dunno,  mas'r  ;  I  guess  he'll  be  at  the  big  ball  to-night, 
at  Judge  Quinn's,"  answered  the  African. 

"  Where  does  he  board  ?" 


302  RAXGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

"  At  the  Franklia  Hotel." 

Young  Morrow  hastened  to  the  house,  indicated  by  the  black, 
and  passing  into  the  bar-room  on  the  first  floor,  discovered  his 
enemy  drinking  with  a  number  of  gay  friends,  at  the  counter,  all 
laughing  immoderately,  while  the  lawyer  detailed  with  many 
amusing  embellishments,  the  scene,  in  which  he  had  been  one  of 
the  actors  during  the  forenoon. 

When  he  had  finished  the  funny  history,  according  to  his  rela 
tion  of  it,  a  tall,  stern-featured  man,  with  keen  blue  eyes,  who 
had  listened  in  silence,  remarked  in  grave  accents  : 

"  Mr.  Ellsman,  I  warn  you  to  keep  your  eye  well  skinned  for 
the  red-haired  hunter.  I  happen  to  be  acquainted  with  him, 
and  regard  him  as  the  most  dangerous  animal  that  runs  in  the 
woods." 

"  Nonsense,  old  Jack  Smith  T.,"  replied  the  attorney,  laugh 
ing  ;  "  he  would  fly  from  the  blaze  of  a  pistol,  like  deer  from  the 
prairies  on  fire."  And  tossing  half  a  glass  of  brandy  down  his 
throat,  the  duellist  turned  and  beheld  the  man,  of  whom  he  had 
just  spoken,  within  two  feet  of  his  person. 

The  features  of  young  Morrow  were  pale  as  those  of  a  statue, 
and  rigid  as  lineaments  of  iron.  The  most  fearful  of  all  murder 
ous  tokens  appeared  on  his  visage,  in  great  lurid  tears,  that 
rolled,  drop  by  drop,  down  his  sunburnt  cheeks.  The  signs  of 
deadly  passion  are  all  terrible  enough — the  scorching  smile,  the 
speechless  grinding  of  the  teeth,  the  snake-like  writhing  of  the 
livid  lips,  the  red  radiations  of  the  flashing  eye ;  but  to  see  a 
brave  man  weep  with  unutterable  rage  is  the  most  appalling  of 
all — an  assurance  that  blood  must  flow,  as  certainly  as  the 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND   JOANNA.  303 

| 

thunder-clap  follows  the  lightning  of  the  summer  storm.  And 
so  the  lawyer  understood  it  ;  but  relying  on  his  own  fatal  skill 
in  the  arts  of  the  duellist,  he  felt  no  sort  of  apprehension,  and 
addressed  the  hunter  in  bantering  tones  : 

"  What  is  your  wish,  Mr.  Fire-eater  ;  do  you  seek  my  life  as 
well  as  my  sweetheart  ?" 

"  I  want  to  shoot  you,  in  a  fair  fight  1"  hissed  the  other 
through  his  teeth. 

"Do  you  imagine,  that  I  am  going  to  treat  such  a  ruffian  as 
you  like  a  gentleman  ?"  said  Ellsman  scornfully  ;  "  you  had  bet 
ter  hurry  home,  and  wed  my  cast-off  mistress,  and  I  hope  you 
will  have  much  joy  with  the  jade  ?" 

Sudden  as  the  spring  of  a  panther,  the  hunter  grasped  the 
attorney's  nose  with  his  left  hand,  and  his  chin  with  his  right, 
and  jerking  open  his  jaws,  discharged  a  full  volley  of  tobacco- 
juice  into  his  mouth,  exclaiming,  with  a  diabolical  burst  of 
laughter  : 

"You'll  fight  now,  I  reckon  !" 

"  Yes  !  yes  !"  cried  the  other,  foaming  with  shame  and  fury  ; 
"  let  us  arrange  the  matter  instantly  ;  you  must  die  before  sun 
set  !  Who  will  be  your  second  ?" 

"  I  will,"  answered  old  Jack  Smith  T.,  coming  forward,  and 
shaking  Morrow's  hand  warmly,  with  the  declaration  of 
approval  ;  "  I  knew  you  were  made  of  the  genuine  metal,  and  no 
mistake  " 

The  hostile,  interview  was  settled  to  occur  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  Morrow,  under  the  advice  of  his  friend,  chose  double- 


304        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

- 

barrelled  shot-guns,  and  the  parties  accompanied  by  hundreds 
of  anxious  spectators,  proceeded  to  cross  the  river. 

The  lord  of  light  was  just  sinking  in  the  western  sky,  beneath 
a  bed  of  golden  clouds,  when  the  foes  took  their  separate 
positions. 

"  I  have  the  word,"  said  old  Jack  Smith  T.,  as  he  placed  his 
principal  on  the  ground  ;  "  aim  low,  and  fire  quick  as  a  flash  of 
lightning.  That  is  everything  in  a  duel  with  double  barrels." 

The  seconds  then  assumed  their  proper  stations,  and  the 
spectators  held  their  breath  in  horrible  suspense  for  the  coming 
catastrophe.  At  length  Smith  shouted,  in  tones  loud  and  clear 
as  the  blast  of  a  trumpet,  the  usual  terms  of  that  fearful  formula, 
which  has  sounded  the  signal  of  death  for  so  many  of  earth's 
bravest  sons,  and  which  will  continue  to  ring  over  fields  of  blood, 
till  the  end  of  the  world,  unless  the  constitution  of  man  shall  be 
changed  by  some  unimaginable  miracle. 

At  the  intonation  "Fire,"  quick  as  thought,  young  Morrow 
raised  and  discharged  his  gun  ;  and  with  the  deafening  roar,  Ells- 
man  dropped  to  the  dust  a  corpse,  without  even  touching  his  trig 
ger — so  sudden  was  the  hunter's  fire.  Half-a-dozen  shot  had 
pierced  the  lawyer's  heart ;  for  the  distance  had  been  only 
twenty  paces. 

Jack  Morrow  hastened  back  home,  and  early  next  morning 
flew  to  the  residence  of  Doctor  Dewville,  burning  with  indescrib 
able  eagerness  to  communicate  his  achievement.  An  extraordi 
nary  revolution  had  taken  place  both  in  his  mind  and  appearance, 
since  the  hour  of  victory.  His  previous  awkward  and  bashful 
air  and  gestures,  had  been  exchanged  for  a  lofty  look  of  pride  and 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND   JOANNA.  305 

. 
*£.' 

conscious  manhood.  He  had  fought  a  duel,  he  had  slain  the  all- 
dreaded  desperado  of  Missouri,  he  had  been  congratulated  for 
his  prowess  by  hundreds  of  brave  men,  and  more  than  all,  he  had 
won  i he  hand  of  the  most  beautiful  woman  that  ever  St.  Louis 
saw  !  These  thoughts  were  stamped  on  his  face,  filled  his  soul, 
and  flashed  from  his  eyes.  He  felt  himself  the  peer  of  any  hero 
in  the  world. 

He  rushed  into  the  doctor's  presence,  and  finding  the  family 
at  breakfast,  hastily  described  his  combat  of  the  previous  even 
ing.  Both  the  parents  uttered  exclamations  of  surprise  and 
grief,  as  the  lawyer  was  expected  soon  to  be  the  husband  of 
their  daughter,  and  they  gazed  at  her  visage  with  the  deepest 
anxiety. 

But  what  must  have  been  their  amazement  to  behold  on  her 
features  a  cruel  smile  of  supreme  satisfaction  1  The  hunter,  too, 
did  not  fail  to  observe  the  same  token,  and  he  concluded,  most 
unwisely,  that  now  was  the  fitting  moment  to  demand  the  gift 
of  his  beautiful  bride. 

"  Yes,"  he  continued,  with  a  certain  grand  air  ;  "I  shot  him 
for  insulting  Joanna  ;  and  I  now  claim  her  hand  as  my  just 
reward." 

Had  he  thundered — "  I  have  come  to  murder  all  of  you,  and 
burn  down  the  house  over  your  dead  bodies  !"  the  stupefaction 
of  the  good  couple  could  not  have  been  more  complete. 

"  He  says  but  the  truth,  and  I  have  promised  to  marry  him !" 
cried  the  daughter,  in  her  voice  of  bewildering  sweetness. 

"  What  !  marry  this  ruffian  1"  exclaimed  the  male  physician, 
bounding  from  his  chair,  with  such  haste  as  to  overturn  the 


306        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

table.  "  Get  out  of  my  house,  dpg  of  a  deer-killer  1"  and  in  the 
fury  of  his  passion  he  struck  the  young  man  in  the  face. 

Without  pausing  to  think,  and  as  it  were  involuntarily, 
Morrow  dealt  the  doctor  a  stunning  blow,  which  hurled  him 
back  across  the  fallen  table,  and  broke  his  neck,  as  if  it  had 
been  a  pipe-stem  1 

Instantly  the  awful  fact  became  apparent.  The  distracted 
wife  flew,  with  frightful  screams,  to  raise  her  husband,  but  he 
was  already  lifeless  as  a  stone,  and  shaking  her  tremulous  finger 
at  the  horror-stricken  youth,  she  cried  : 

"  Murderer,  you  shall  hang  for  this  I" 

Presently,  Morrow  recovered  from  his  momentary  stupor,  and 
said  sternly : 

"  Come,  Joanna,  let  us  fly  1"  and  seizing  the  hand  of  the 
pale,  agitated  girl,  they  rushed  swiftly  away  from  the  mournful 
house  of  death.  He  lifted  her  unresisting  form  upon  the  saddle, 
mounted,  at  a  leap,  behind  her,  and  they  galloped  off  with  the 
utmost  speed.  He  halted  at  his  father's  only  long  enough  to 
procure  a  horse  for  his  fair  companion,  and  they  then  pursued 
their  flight,  and  after  the  lapse  of  some  days,  arrived  safely  in 
the  wild  forests  of  the  Osage,  at  the  point  where  now  stands  the 
flourishing  village  of  Warsaw. 

The  first  emigrants  were  just  beginning  to  swarm  into  this 
virgin  country,  and  as  the  Indians  gave  them  great  trouble,  the 
reckless  bravery  of  Jack  Morrow  soon  achieved  the  highest  dis 
tinction,  and  acquired  for  him  the  honorable  rank  of  major  in 
the  State  militia.  Every  thing  that  he  undertook  seemed  Jo 
prosper,  and  in  due  time  he  possessed  wealth  as  well  as  influence. 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND   JOANNA.  807 

After  a  while,  however,  the  wandering  thieves  and  counter 
feiters  grew  more  annoying  than  the  savages  had  been  before, 
and  a  band  of  lynchers  was  organized,  who,  with  singular 
unanimity,  elected  the  major  as  their  chieftain.  And  then 
commenced  a  series  of  combats  and  cruel  executions,  which 
almost  surpass  belief.  An  opposition  party  shortly  sprung  into 
existence,  as  always  happens  in  such  cases,  under  the  name  of 
moderators,  whose  ferocity,  if  that  could  be,  indeed,  possible, 
transcended  the  rage  of  their  enemies  ;  and  the  civil  war  con- 
tinned  until  more  than  fifty  men  had  fallen  victims  in  the 
ruthless  strife.  While  it  lasted,  the  hostile  factions  endeavored 
to  excel  each  other  in  barbarity,  and  every  act  of  revenge  was 
repaid  by  some  deed  of  still  more  qwful  assassination. 

During  this  reign  of  terror,  there  lived  in  the  wildest  woods 
of  the  Osage,  a  hunter  by  the  name  of  Mose  Tuttle,  the  brother 
of  Sol  and  Dave,  a  quiet,  inoffensive  man,  but  fearless  as  a  lion, 
when  once  aroused.  From  the  pure  love  of  peace  and  order,  he 
enrolled  himself  in  the  ranks  of  the  moderators,  but  never 
engaged  in  any  of  their  atrocities,  and  soon  abandoned  them  in 
disgust  and  horror. 

It  happened,  that  one  of  the  regulators  had  been  shot  down 
in  the  road,  not  very  far  from  Tattle's  residence,  and  they  imme 
diately  accused  him  of  a  crime,  which  he  did  not  even  know  to 
have  been  committed. 

At  midnight,  a  hundred  lynchers,  headed  by  their  chief,  broke 
into  the  sleeping  hunter's  house,  and  tearing  him  away  from  the 
arms  of  his  shrieking  wife,  and  the  useless  prayers  of  his  little 
children,  carried  him  off  a  fettered  prisoner.  The  whole  affair 


308  RANGERS    AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AH  A 

had  been  conducted  in  silence,  and,  although  the  captive 
entreated  them  to  explain  the  nature  of  the  offence  with  which 
he  stood  charged,  not  one  of  the  ruthless  regulators  answered  a 
word. 

They  marched  him  on,  until  they  reached  the  border  of  the 
prairie,  where  the  full  moon  shone  with  a  brilliancy  almost 
equal  to  the  light  of  day,  and  revealed  a  spectacle  which  chilled 
the  very  blood  in  the  prisoner's  veins  with  an  icy  thrill  of  horror. 
There  yawned  that  frightful  chasm  in  the  earth,  which  has 
nameless  power  to  agitate  the  most  heroic  heart,  that  ever 
throbbed  in  a  human  bosom — a  fresh  grave,  still  empty,  with 
the  red  clay  lying  in  ridges  around  it,  and  which  had  been  but 
recently  dug.  The  pallid  corpse  of  a  man  was  placed  beside  it, 
and  the  blue  bullet-hole  in  his  white  forehead,  showed  him  to  be 
a  new  victim  of  the  unrelenting  civil  war. 

Here,  the  party  halted,  and  Major  Morrow,  addressed  the 
hunter  in  a  terrible  voice  : 

"  Villain,  you  are  the  murderer  of  that  man  I" 

"  I  swear,  by  the  God  that  made  me,  and  as  I  hope  for  mercy 
at  his  hands,  that  I  am  entirely  innocent  of  the  deed,  and  had 
no  knowledge  even  of  his  death  I"  protested  Tuttle  with  inde 
scribable  solemnity. 

"  We  will  soon  see  whether  you  are  telling  the  truth  or  not," 
rejoined  the  chief,  with  a  satanic  chuckle  ;  "  boys  throw  the 
dead  body  into  the  grave/7 

The  ruffians  instantly  obeyed  the  order. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Tuttle,  you  get  in,  and  lie  down  beside  the  corpse, 
and  if  you  are  guilty,  it  will  move,  otherwise  it  will  remain 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND    JOANNA.  309 

without  gesture  !"  commanded  the  major,  in  tones  of  affected 
mildness. 

"  Oh  I  for  pity's  sake,  hang  me,  shoot  me,  kill  me  any  way 
you  will,  only  do  not  bury  me  alive  !"  implored  the  hunter,  as  a 
dreadful  apprehension  of  their  purpose  flashed  across  his  mind. 

"  We  have  no  idea  of  doing  any  such  thing,"  replied  the  arch- 
lyncher  ;  "  we  only  intend  to  try  an  old  test  for  the  detection  of 
the  murderer  ;  and  if  the  corpse  does  not  stir,  or  the  wound 
bleed  afresh,  when  you  lie  in  the  same  bed,  others  shall  take 
your  place  till  we  discover  the  real  assassin." 

With  horrible  forebodings,  Tuttle  descended  into  the  tomb 
and  stretched  himself  out  by  the  dead  body,  crying  : 

"There,  you  see  it  does  not  move  V 

11  Be  quiet  till  we  cover  you  up  a  little,  to  make  sure  I" 
answered  the  chief,  and  a  dozen  hands,  with  spades,  began  to 
throw  in  red  clay.  The  hunter  bounded  to  his  feet  with  a  wild 
wail  of  despair  ;  but  a  brace  of  rifle  balls  shivered  the  bones  of 
his  thighs,  and  he  fell  back  upon  the  corpse,  while  the  pile  of 
superincumbent  earth  rose  rapidly  above  both  the  dead  and 
living,  and  the  murderers  yelled  like  devils  ! 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  LYNCHERS. 

PERHAPS  there  is  nothing  calculated  to  test  the  courage  or 
cowardice  of  individuals,  with  so  much  unerring  certainty,  as  the 
long,  noiseless  vigil  of  a  night  beset  with  immediate  danger. 
Because  both  darkness  and  silence  tend  to  inspire  the  emotion 
of  fear,  by  suggesting  to  the  mind  the  last  sunless  gloom  of  the 
grave,  and  the  solemn  stillness  of  Eternity.  From  this  natural 
cause,  in  all  ages  and  among  all  nations,  the  viewless  realms  of 
night  have  been  peopled  with  the  shadowy  phantoms  of  supersti 
tion.  Those  are  the  hours  when  fairies  come  forth  from  their 
subterranean  homes  to  dance  in  the  charmed  circle,  when  witches 
keep  their  revels  around  hell's  caldron  of  bubbling  blood,  when 
lost  souls  sign  the  infernal  compact  with  the  evil  one,  when 
ghosts  glide  through  the  haunted  churchyard,  when  pale-eyed 
murder  stalks  stealthily  to  the  sleeping  pillow  of  its  unconscious 
victim,  and  when  all  the  tiger-passions,  the  fierce  furies  of  the 
mind,  awake  to  renewed  life  and  monstrous  energy.  Even  the 
wild  animals  exemplify  this  striking  truth.  The  howl  of  the 
wolf  never  sounds  so  unutterably  horrible  as  at  the  noon  of  dark- 

810 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  LTNCHEBS.  311 

ness,  and  the  roar  of  the  lion  becomes  thunder.  And  thus  do 
all  the  aspects  of  material  nature  harmonize  with  the  different 
moods  and  ideas  of  man,  and  with  the  instincts  of  the  wide 
living  world.  No  human  heart  could  hold  its  superstition  long, 
if  the  sunlight  lay  forever  on  the  land  and  sea,  as  all  mankind 
would  soon  become  wild  fanatics,  if  the  grim  night-shadows 
brooded  eternally  on  field  and  forest. 

A  marvellous  change  came  over  many  of  the  lynchers,  at 
Major  Morrow's  residence,  before  morning,  as  they  waited  and 
watched  for  the  attack  of  the  Texan  Rangers.  The  solitary 
reflection  of  some  brought  them  to  their  senses,  and  exposed  the 
hopeless  folly  of  resistance  to  the  public  force,  which  must 
shortly  become  utterly  overwhelming.  The  inherent  timidity 
of  others,  when  the  fiery  stimulus  of  extraneous  circumstances 
died  out,  began  to  master  their  nerves,  and  the  rifle  trembled  in 
a  hundred  strong  hands,  as  the  first  silver  arrows  of  the  dewy 
dawn  appeared  in  the  grey  east,  and  the  starry  sentinels  of  the 
night  put  out  their  golden  watch-fires,  and  retired,  one  by  one, 
into  the  azure  depths  of  heaven. 

As  it  grew  broad  daylight,  the  itinerant,  Hiram  Baker, 
remarked  in  a  whisper  ;  "  it  is  strange,  that  Colonel  Henderson 
defers  the  assault,  which  should  have  been  commenced,  at  least, 
half  an  hour  ago." 

Scarcely  had  he  spoken,  when  a  terrible  roar,  like  a  sudden 
peal  of  thunder,  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  the  farm-gate,  and 
the  block-house  shook,  as  if  it  were  standing  upon  an  earth 
quake,  a  wild  outcry  emanated  from  the  rooms  below,  followed  by 
the  fierce  order  of  the  chief :  "  Now,  boys,  aim  at  the  men  around 


312        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AH  A. 

the  cannon ;  it  is  a  long  shot,  but  our  only  chance.  When 
you  empty  your  guns,  reload  and  discharge  them  as  fast  as  pos 
sible.  Fire!" 

A  deafeaing  volley  showed  the  prompt  obedience  of  the  com 
pany,  and  for  many  minutes,  the  rifles  roared  incessantly, 
drowned,  at  brief  intervals,  by  the  still  more  awful  crash  of  the 
Texan  artillery,  every  thunder-ball,  of  which,  tore  through  the 
slender,  quivering  pine  logs  of  both  walls,  as  if  they  had  been 
made  of  paper,  scattering  the  ragged  splinters  around  in  all 
directions,  and  strewing  the  bloody  floor  with  dead  and  wounded. 

Nevertheless,  the  trumpet-tones  of  Major  Morrow  rose  on 
high  above  the  battle-storm  of  shrieks,  shouts,  and  horrible 
curses ;  above  the  bellowing  of  the  cannon,  and  the  infernal  roar 
of  the  rifles,  animating  his  men,  by  mingled  menace  and  persua 
sion  to  triumph  or  fall  at  their  posts. 

During  this  fearful  crisis  of  the  conflict,  young  Boiling  could 
not  withdraw  his  eyes  from  the  singular  countenance  of  the  arch- 
lyncher's  lady.  Her  appearance  and  conduct  spell-bound  him, 
as  with  a  species  of  fascination.  She  stood  at  a  window  opening 
towards  the  position  of  the  rangers,  and  fully  exposed  to  their 
fire,  gazing, with  an  aspect  of  diabolic  delight  upon  the  appalling 
scene.  Her  slender  form  seemed  to  expand  with  the  burning 
ardor  of  her  internal  emotions.  Her  wild  black  eyes  blazed  like 
the  red  flashes  of  the  artillery.  A  lurid  satanic  smile  gleamed 
on  all  her  features  ;  and  the  dim  war-cloud  of  rolling  smoke 
around  her  cruel  visage,  gave  it  an  aspect  truly  infernal. 

And  still  the  cannon  thundered,  and  the  rifles  cracked  louder 
than  ever,  until  the  external  wall  of  the  block -house,  shivered 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  LYNCHERS.  313 

into  large  fragmentary  holes,  could  no  more  afford  the  vain  sem 
blance  of  protection,  and  a  hail  of  grape-shot  began  to  mingle 
with  the  great  round  balls. 

"  Hold  out,  five  minutes  longer,  boys,  and  if  the  ammunition  of 
the  enemy  be  not  then  exhausted,  we  will  order  a  retreat," 
shouted  the  major  to  his  fainting  men. 

"  Now  is  our  time  ! "  exclaimed  Boiling  ;  and  a  dozen  of  his 
associates,  at  this  preconcerted  signal  threw  themselves  upon  the 
guard  around  the  door  of  the  prisoners. 

A  fierce  struggle  ensued,  for  the  parties  were  nearly  equal  in 
numbers,  and  the  regulators  fought  with  the  fury  of  desperation. 
In  a  short  time,  the  hall  was  filled  with  smoke  from  the  flashing 
guns  and  pistols,  and  the  combat  went  on  in  the  darkness. 

The  huge  bully,  Jack  Simonton,  having  discharged  his  gun, 
broke  it  over  the  head  of  Parson  Johnson,  felling  him  to  the 
floor,  as  if  shot  through  the  heart,  and  then  drawing  his  bowie- 
knife,  the  desperado. rushed  upon  Boiling.  The  latter  suddenly 
dropped  to  his  knees,  thus  avoiding  the  deadly  blow,  and  grasp 
ing  the  other  round  the  legs,  jerked  them  from  under  him,  and 
they  rolled  over  together,  the  lyncher  losing  his  dagger  in  the 
scuffle.  They  clinched  instantly,  but  by  an  unlucky  chance,  the 
iron  fingers  of  Simonton  gripped  the  young  man's  throat,  and 
held  it,  like  the  jaws  of  a  vice.  All  his  efforts  failed  to  break 
that  awful  clasp  of  death.  He  tried  to  call  for  assistance,  but 
only  a  faint  murmur  gurgled  in  his  mouth,  while  the  waves  of  an 
ocean  of  blood  seemed  to  roll  before  his  darkened  eye-balls,  and 
the  weight  of  an  iron  mountain  pressed  upon  his  brain.  He  felt 
that  his  hours  on  earth  had  been  numbered,  and  thought  a  last 

14 


314       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

prayer  for  his  own  soul,  anc*  tne  safety  of  his  beautiful  beloved, 
and  resigned  himself  to  his  miserable  fate. 

At  this  terrible  moment,  when  the  youth  had  no  more  power 
to  put  forth  a  struggle,  he  heard,  through  his  misty  sleep  of 
incipient  unsconsciousness,  a  sudden  crash  as  of  shattered  bones, 
and  his  foe  fell  heavily  upon  his  own  bosom.  Then,  some  one 
aided  him  to  rise,  and  the  triumphant  shout  of  Caesar  exclaimed  : 

"  I  fix  him,  Massa  Boiling  ;  I  mash  him  scull,  like  a  possum's, 
with  the  gun-barrel  !" 

The  fight  still  continued,  but  with  less  ardor  on  the  part  of 
the  regulators,  who,  at  last,  were  driven  to  the  head  of  the 
stairs.  Boiling  and  Baker  then  seized  the  opportunity  to  burst 
in  the  door,  and  free  the  prisoners.  Immediately  Colonel  Cook 
and  Sol  Tuttle,  snatched  up  a  couple  of  rifles,  which  had  dropped 
from  hands  that  never  would  need  any  weapons  again,  save  the 
spade  of  the  grave-digger,  and  charged  the  wavering  lynchers. 
The  fury  of  the  hunter  baffled  all  description,  the  blows  of  his 
gun-barrel  flew  like  lightning,  regardless  of  the  shots  that  hissed 
around  his  heart,  not  one  of  which  touched,  while  every  stroke 
of  his  brought  down  a  foe. 

At  last,  all  the  defenders  of  the  upper  story  were  forced  into 
the  lower  part  of  the  fortress,  causing  the  utmost  consternation. 

"  Now,  boys,  every  one,  charge  up  the  stairs,  and  shoot  the 
whole  accursed  crew,  women,  and  all  ;  and  then  we'll  retreat  !" 
vociferated  Major  Morrow. 

The  men  hurried  to  obey  him.  Yelling  like  savages,  and  fir 
ing  volleys  of  buckshot  and  pistol  bullets,  they  swarmed  up  the 
steps  to  massacre  the  friends  of  mercy.  The  latter,  unfortunately, 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  LTNCHERS.  315 

had  already  discharged  their  weapons,  and  most  of  them  being 
without  the  necessary  supply  of  balls,  there  seemed  little  hope  of 
their  successful  resistance.  However,  Boiling,  Tuttle,  and  Col 
onel  Cook  stood  their  ground,  near  the  top  of  the  stairs,  and 
shattered  every  head  as  soon  as  it  appeared  above  the  floor. 

"  Get  the  two  ladders  in  the  yard,  there,  and  climb  in  through 
the  windows  I"  roared  the  major  ;  and  half  the  brave  defenders 
of  the  prisoners  were  now  called  to  oppose  this  new  danger  ;  and 
they  all  felt  the  impossibility  of  escaping  from  their  inevitable 
doom. 

Suddenly,  a  frightful  exclamation  of  uncontrollable  terror  rent 
the  air  in  the  lower  rooms  : 

"  The  rangers  are  coming  at  a  charge  !  let  us  fly  for  our  lives  I" 

Instantly,  the  wildest  panic  seized  the  great  body  of  the  regu 
lators  ;  and  in  spite  of  the  threats  and  entreaties  of  their  undaunted 
chief,  they  broke  from  the  house,  and  fled  in  the  utmost  confusion. 
From  motives  of  pity,  and  acting  under  the  humane  order  of  the 
President,  the  Texan  troopers  suffered  most  of  the  fugitives  to 
escape,  but  they  had  been  directed,  at  all  hazards,  to  capture, 
or  kill  the  arch-lyncher. 

When  the  infuriate  major  saw  that  all  was  lost,  he  ran  off 
with  the  rest,  and  soon  outstripped  every  competitor  in  that 
awful  race,  upon  which  so  many  heads  depended.  At  length,  a 
ranger,  who  knew  Morrow  personally,  singled  him  out  with  his 
eye  and  flew  after  him,  like  an  arrow,  with  his  sword  flashing  in 
the  morning  sunlight,  and  uplifted  to  cut  the  fugitive  down. 

Joanna,  gazing  on  the  scene  from  the  upper  window,  uttered  a 
shriek,  as  all  hope  for  her  husband  departed.  But  suddenly, 


316       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

when  the  trooper  came  within  ten  steps,  quick  as  a  glance  of  the 
eye,  the  major  wheeled  and  fired  his  revolver,  and  the  pursuer 
tumbled  from  his  saddle,  shot  through  his  right  eye  ;  while  his 
horse  bounded  two  more  leaps,  and  halted  at  the  lyncher's  side. 
Instantly,  the  latter  sprung  upon  his  back  and  urged  the  animal 
to  the  highest  speed. 

He  obtained  this  needful  assistance  just  in  time  ;  for  a 
hundred  rangers  were  at  his  heels  and  gave  chase  over  the 
smooth  field,  for  half  a  mile  towards  the  woods,  firing  their 
pistols,  and  shouting  for  him  to  surrender.  As  they  drew 
near  the  fence,  they  felt  sure  of  their  victim,  for  a  terrible  thicket 
of  black  thorns  lay  immediately  beyond  this  barrier,  into  which 
the  very  wings  of  a  bird  might  hardly  dare  to  venture. 

"  They'll  cotch  him  now  !"  cried  Sol  Tuttle,  as  he  paused  to 
renew  his  breath,  for  he  had  followed  on  foot  after  the  rangers, 
while  the  pale  lips  of  Joanna,  from  her  window,  uttered  another 
wild  scream. 

But  no,  as  the  chief  approached  the  fence,  he  gathered  up  the 
reins  of  the  bridle,  drew  his  bowie-knife,  and  pricking  the  horse 
with  its  point  behind  the  saddle,  thundered  a  fearful  yell,  and 
the  animal  took  the  mighty  leap,  and  came  crashing  down  into 
the  thorny  bushes  outside  of  the  field. 

Even  the  bravest  troopers  shuddered  at  a  recklessness  so  far 
surpassing  their  own,  and  feared  to  attempt  a  similar  feat  of 
prowess.  Before  they  could  dismount  and  essay  to  follow  on 
foot,  the  lyucher  had  left  his  saddle,  and  disappeared  in  the 
dense  and  dangerous  undergrowth  of  the  forest,  where  they 
afterwards  continued  their  search  for  him  in  vain. 


I 


But  no,«as  the  chief  approached  the  fence,  he  gathered  up  the  reins  of  the  bridle, 
drew  his  bowie-knife,  and  pricking  the  horse  with  its  point  behind  the  saddje,  thundered 
a  fearful  yell,  and  the  animal  took  the  mighty  leap,  and  came  crashing  down  into  tht 
thorny  bushes  outside  of  the  field.  — PA^K  316. 


THE   DEFEAT    OF   THE   LYNCHERS.  317 

In  the  meantime,  the  leaders  of  the  Texan  force  entered  the 
block-house  and  beheld  a  horrifying  scene.  More  than  twenty 
persons  dead,  or  wounded,  lay  scattered  about  on  the  floor,  which 
was  slippery  with  blood.  Colonel  Cook  greeted  the  President 
warmly,  and  presented  his  new  friends,  Baker  and  Boiling,  who 
were  both  surprised  and  delighted  with  the  majestic  air  and 
courtly  manners  of  the  first  officer  of  the  Republic. 

Presently  the  airy  form  of  Joanna  came  tripping  down  stairs, 
and  passing,  without  apparent  emotion,  by  the  corpses  of  her  two 
sons,  fallen  in  the  recent  combat,  she  grasped  the  hand  of  her 
former  acquaintance,  remarking  with  a  pale  smile  : 

11  General  Houston,  I  am  very  happy  to  see  you  again, 
although,  I  might  wish  that  your  visit  had  been  of  a  more 
peaceful  nature." 

"  It  is  always  a  pleasure  for  me  to  receive  a  welcome  from  the 
lips  of  the  beautiful  under  any  circumstances,"  replied  the 
President,  with  his  usual  gallantry. 

"  Our  people  have  been  basely  slandered  to  your  ears,"  said 
the  woman,  in  her  sweet  silvery  accents  ;  "or  else  your  noble 

heart    could     never    have    treated     us    with    such    merciless 
severity." 

"  I  never  discuss  political  questions  with  the  fair  sex," 
rejoined  the  general,  with  a  gay  smile  ;  "not  because  I  deem 
such  subjects  above  their  capacity  ;  but,  conscious  of  my  own 
weakness,  I  fear  to  be  enchanted  from  my  duty." 

"  Ah  !  I  see,  you  are  the  same  old  deceiver,  as  great  a 
flatterer  as  ever,"  answered  Joanna,  with  her  bewildering  smile  ; 
"  but  I  must  hasten,  and  order  your  breakfast." 


318       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"No,  I  thank  you,  my  dear  madam,"  refused  Houston  ;  "we 
must  march  forthwith  to  attack  the  robbers." 

"  Well,  at  at  all  events,  accept  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  ;  it  will 
occupy  but  a  moment  to  prepare  it,"  insisted  the  lady  of  the 
house. 

"  Joanna,  you  are  always  irresistible,"  assented  the  President, 
in  a  tender  voice  ;  and  the  woman,  with  a  strange  gleam  in  her 
eyes,  left  the  parlor. 

"  The  she-devil  I"  ejaculated  Houston,  as  soon  as  she  disap 
peared  ;  "  what  other  matron  in  the  world  could  play  the 
coquette  over  the  corpses  of  her  own  children  ?" 

Boiling,  however,  had  noticed  the  sinister  countenance  of 
Joanna,  and  calling  to  mind  their  former  conversation,  he 
guessed  at  her  present  object,  and  glided  stealthily  after,  to 
watch  her  actions.  He  saw  her  unlock  a  closet  in  the  kitchen, 
when  taking  from  the  shelf  a  small  vial,  she  poured  out  some 
grey  powder,  and  mingled  it  with  the  coffee,  and  then  calling  a 
servant,  she  handed  him  the  pot  with  the  direction  to  boil  and 
bring  it  into  the  parlor  as  soon  as  he  could  do  so. 

From  the  murderous  smile  that  writhed  on  her  livid  lips,  the 
youth  inferred  the  character  of  the  intended  beverage,  and  flying 
back  to  the  party  of  officers,  he  whispered  his  suspicion  in  the 
ear  of  the  President.  Even  Houston  himself  turned  pale,  and 
beckoning  the  others  to  him,  communicated  the  terrible  idea, 
in  a  low  voice. 

A  general  exclamation  of  horror  rose  from  every  tongue,  and 
several  cried  out  furiously  : 

"  Let  us  hang  the  old  hag — the  infernal  wolf-witch  I" 


THE    DEFEAT    OF   THE    LTNCHERS.  319 

"Not  another  word,  gentlemen  1"  said  the  president  sternly  j 
you  would  certainly  not  disgrace  yourselves  by  cruelty  to  a 
female.  Leave  me  alone  to  deal*  with  the  lady." 

The  instant  afterwards,  she  came  in  with  a  beaming  smile,  and 
proceeded  hastily  to  arrange  the  table  with  teacups  and  saucers  j 
and  very  soon,  the  slave  appeared  with  the  steaming  coffee-pot. 
She  quickly  filled  a  dozen  bowls  with  the  fragrant  liquid,  and 
remarked  in  her  sweetest  tones  : 

"  Here,  general,  I  think,  that  you  will  find  this  to  your  taste, 
for  I  told  Aunt  Hannah  to  do  her  best." 

14  Houston  approached,  and  raising  the  cup  towards  his  lips, 
suddenly  paused,  and  gazing  into  her  changeless  black  eyes, 
remarked,  with  a  radiant  smile  : 

"  Joanna,  dear,  I  am  really  afraid  to  drink  your  pleasant  liba 
tion." 

"  Why  ?"  she  asked,  without  alteration  of  countenance. 

"Because,"  he  answered,  in  a  voice  of  well-feigned  tenderness  ; 
"  it  has  a  singular  odor  ;  and  with  what  I  feel  for  you  already,  if 
you  have  mixed  a  philter  in  it,  I  should  run  mad  with 
love  !" 

"  Nonsense  !  how  you  talk  1"  she  said,  with  an  attempted 
smile,  but  the  paleness  of  her  visage  perceptibly  increased. 

"  I  would  not  care,"  he  continued,  without  once  removing  his 
keen  eyes  from  her  countenance  ;  "  if  you  could  be  inspired  with 
a  similar  degree  of  frenzy.  Suppose,  that  you  first  imbibe  the 
same  divine  beverage." 

"  I  am  proud^to  have  the  honor,"  she  responded  promptly,  in 
such  calm  accents  as  almost  to  overthrow  all  suspicion,  and 


320        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

lifted  a  fall  saucer  to  her  smiling  mouth  with  the  evident  inten 
tion  of  swallowing  the  whole. 

Houston  arrested  her  hand,  and  taking  the  vessel,  observed  : 

"  Let  us  first  try  the  effect  on  some  of  the  inferior  ani 
mals." 

He  then  whistled  up  a  large  black  dog  from  the  door,  and 
setting  down  the  saucer,  the  brute  lapped  it  to  the  last  drop. 
In  half  a  minute  afterwards,  the  animal  uttered  a  mournful 
whine,  and  falling  upon  the  floor  in  horrible  contortions,  almost 
instantly  expired. 

"  Did  I  not  say,  that  you  had  mixed  a  love-potion  with  your 
coffee,  Joanna  ?"  exclaimed  the  President,  in  a  voice  of  thunder. 

Immediately,  the  entire  appearance  of  the  wicked  woman 
changed,  when  she  found  her  murderous  design  unmasked. 

"  Yes,"  she  cried,  with  a  burst  of  fiendish  laughter  ;  "  it  was 
a  philter  prepared  especially  for  you,  assassin  of  my  darling 
sons  !  Oh  !  if  I  only  had  the  power,  as  I  possess  already  the 
will,  I  would  poison  the  whole  atmospheric  ocean,  that  lies 
around  the  universal  globe  ;  I  would  fill  the  sea  with  blood  ;  or 
with  the  blaze  of  burning  thunder-bolts,  scorch  all  mankind  into 
cinders,  in  order  to  behold  you  a  corpse  at  my  feet  !  I  would 
endure  any  torture,  die  by  inches,  even  howl  in  the  fires  of  hell 
for  ever,  if  you  were  only  doomed  to  suffer  by  my  side  !" 

She  foamed  at  the  mouth,  like  a  maniac,  tore  her  flesh  with 
her  teeth,  while  her  black  eyes  grew  red  and  blood-shot. 

But  all  at  once,  the  mood  of  her  frantic  imagination  changed 
to  tones  of  the  wildest  sorrow.  She  reeled  giddily  a  few  steps, 
and  throwing  herself  down  beside  her  youngest  son,  clasped  the 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  LYNCHERS.  321 

dead  body  to  her  bosom,  and  kissing  with  infinite  fondness  the 
icy  lips,  exclaimed  in  wailing  accents,  the  saddest  ever 
heard  : 

"Oh  !  my  beloved  boy,  the  most  precious  memory  of  all  the 
past,  my  morning  star  of  hope  for  the  future,  my  sweet  dream  of 
the  heart,  the  idol  of  all  my  worship,  forgive  thy  unhappy  mother 
for  failing  to  avenge  thy  young  blood,  which  the  cruel  one  hath 
shed  like  water  ! n  And  at  last  her  tears  came,  first  in  drops, 
and  then  in  quick  showers,  as  the  fall  of  summer  rain. 

Even  the  spectators,  in  spite  of  their  hatred  and  horror,  felt 
moved  by  the  mournful  scene,  and  Boiling  felt  the  dews  of  gentle 
pity  flowing  from  his  own  eyes  at  the  sight.  For  of  all  the  sor 
rows  that  this  world  of  woes  has  ever  witnessed,  there  is  not  one, 
at  the  same  time  so  unspeakably  profound  and  purely  unselfish 
*as  the  grief  of  a  parent's  heart  at  the  loss  of  a  dear  child.  Per 
sonal  interest  may  mingle  in  the  painful  emotions  in  other  cases 
of  bereavement,  passion  may  burn  still  in  the  fiery  tears  of  the 
weeping  lover,  separated  for  ever  from  the  bosom  of  his  beautiful 
bride,  but  the  drop  of  agony  in  the  mother's  eye  on  the  coffin-lid 
of  her  babe  is  a  molten  pearl  from  the  very  centre  of  the  soul, 
and  as  unpolluted  as  the  soul  itself,  when  emerging  from  the  holy 
hands  of  its  Maker.  It  is  a  gem  of  morning  dew  from  the  first 
flower-cup  that  opened  in  Eden — a  particle  of  celestial  rain 
brewed  in  the  sinless  air  of  the  uppermost  heaven—  and  wafted  by 
angel  wings  to  the  earth  as  a  specimen  of  immortal  love  and 
pity  I 

"  Come,  gentlemen,  let  us  be  travelling,"  said  the  president  in 
a  saddened  voice,  touched  by  the  spectacle  of  unutterable  misery, 

14* 


322       BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

which  he  had  involuntarily  caused  by  the  performance  of  his  offi 
cial  duty. 

At  the  moment,  however,  a  noise  was  heard  at  the  door,  and 
some  Rangers  led  in  a  prisoner,  crying  as  they  did  so  ;  "  here, 
General,  is  one  of  the  robbers,  that  we  found  at  the  farm-gate." 

"  Why  !  this  is  an  Indian  ! "  exclaimed  Houston  in  surprise. 

"He  speaks  English,  nevertheless,"  remarked  one  of  the 
captors. 

"  What  is  your  name  ?"  inquired  the  president. 

"  Comanche  Ben,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Do  you  belong  to  the  band  of  robbers  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  other  boldly. 

"  Are  they  still  at  Carlyle's  house  ?  " 

"  No,  they  went  away  last  evening. 

"  Where  are  they  now  ?  " 

"  That  I  will  only  tell  to  one  person." 

"  And  who  may  that  be  ?  "  asked  the  general  sternly. 

"  A  man  named  William  Boiling,"  responded  the  Indian. 

"  The  youth  sprung  forward  eagerly,  saying,  "I  am  he  ;  what 
message  have  you  ?  " 

Ben  drew  from  the  pocket  of  his  hunting-shirt,  a  small  letter, 
and  handed  it  over,  according  to  the  direction.  Boiling  unfolded 
the  sheet  hastily,  and  devoured  the  contents  with  pallid  features, 
and  wildly  flashing  eyes. 

"  What  is  the  news  ?  "  asked  Houston,  observing  the  violent 
agitation  of  the  young  man. 

"  The  felons  are  in  the  big  swamp,"  said  young  Boiling,  with 
a  deep  sigh. 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  LYNCHERS.  323 

"  Will  yoa  permit  me  to  glance  at  your  note  ?  "  interrogated 
the  president,  in  courteous,  yet  commanding  tones. 

"  I  cannot  possibly  do  so,"  affirmed  the  youth,  blushing  ;  "  for 
in  truth,  it  is  from  a  lady  and  confidential  in  terms." 

"  Then,  it  seems,  the  outlaws  have  beauty,  as  well  as  booty 
among  them,"  remarked  Houston,  with  the  shadow  of  a  sneer. 

Boiling  answered  with  a  haughty  air  ;  "  the  lady,  to  whom  I 
allude,  is  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Miles,  and  is  a  captive  among 
the  bandits  against  her  will.  I  am  ready  to  vouch  for  her  truth 
and  honor  with  my  life  ;  nor  will  I  allow  any  man,  even  the  most 
lofty,  to  impugn  the  character  of  my  future  wife." 

"  Pardon  my  idle  raillery,"  interposed  the  president  kindly  j 
"  I  am  acquainted  with  the  excellent  girl,  that  you  have  just 
mentioned,  and  almost  envy  you  the  prospect  of  possessing  such 
a  brilliant  and  stainless  jewel." 

"Her  parent,  to  my  great  regret,  is  one  of  the  robbers," 
added  the  youth  mournfully  ;  "  but  I  cannot,  on  that  account, 
break  my  plighted  faith  with  the  innocent  daughter." 

"And  every  true-hearted  man  would  despise  such  meanness," 
affirmed  the  general. 

"This  person,"  said  the  other,  pointing  at  the  Indian;  "will 
guide  us  to  the  camp  of  the  outlaws. 

"  Can  you  trust  him  ?  "  asked  Houston,  with  a  look  of  suspi 
cion. 

"  With  undoubted  assurance,"  answered  Bolliug  ;  "  and  I  will 
accompany  you,  and  take  part  in  your  enterprise." 

"We  shall  be  rejoiced  to  have  your  assistance,"  remarked  the 
president  with  a  gay  smile  ;  "  and  wish  we  all  were  inspired  by 


324        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

the  hope  of  as  bright  a  recompense  as  yours  after  the  toils  of  the 
war  are  over." 

Immediate  preparations  being  made,  the  rangers  commenced 
their  march  ;  and  the  faithful  servant,  Caesar,  insisted  on  attend 
ing  his  master,  while  Comanche  Ben  acted  as  the  guide.  About 
the  middle  of  the  afternoon  they  reached  the  block-house  of  Car- 
lyle,  and  as  the  Indian  had  said,  found  the  fortress  deserted.  The 
president  and  young  Boiling  dismounted,  and  examined  the  place, 
and  both  expressed  much  astonishment  at  the  costly  furniture 
and  magnificent  library,  which  the  captain  had  been  forced  to 
leave  behind  him. 

Here  a  debate  arose,  as  to  their  farther  course.  According 
to  the  statement  of  the  Comanche,  the  camp  of  the  robbers  was 
on  the  Texan  side  of  the  Sabine,  some  twenty  miles  lower  down, 
but  the  path  of  approach  on  this  bank  was  tedious  and  difficult, 
while,  by  crossing  into  Louisiana,  they  could  have  a  good  road 
nearly  all  the  way,  and  would  also  shorten  the  distance  by  half. 

The  fiery  Colonel  Henderson  urged  warmly,  that  they  should 
take  the  latter  direction  ;  but  Colonel  Cook  objected,  that  it 
would  look  like  an  armed  invasion  of  a  foreign  state,  and  might 
involve  the  Republic  in  unpleasant  difficulties  with  the  Federal 
Union. 

Houston,  after  maturely  weighing  the  opposite  reasons,  deter 
mined  to  keep  on  his  own  soil. 

Again,  the  little  army  moved  on  slowly  ;  for  their  dim  trail 
extended  through  a  dense  forest  of  gigantic  trees  intermingled 
with  tangled  undergrowth,  and  frequently  obstructed  by  green- 
mantled  pools,  and  shallow  miry  lakes,  which  compelled  them  to 


THE   DEFEAT   OF   THE   LYNCHERS.  325 

diverge  widely  from  a  straight  line,  indeed  to  make  sometimes, 
as  crooked  curves  as  the  rainbow. 

Nevertheless,  in  this  wild  swampy  region,  beneficent  nature 
had  endeavored  to  afford,  as  much  as  might  be,  the  fullest  com 
pensation  for  her  own  weird  work  of  utter  desolation.  Magnifi 
cent  pine  trees  towered  everywhere,  tall  enough  for  the  soaring 
masts  of  the  mightiest  admirals.  Millions  of  lace-like  vines,  bear 
ing  delicate  blooms  of  every  form  and  fairy  tint,  filled  the  air 
with  the  richest  perfumes.  Along  the  borders  of  the  stagnant 
lakes,  or  floating  above  their  black  surface,  appeared  innumerable 
wild  flowers,  revealing,  by  turns,  all  the  sparkling  hues  of  the  iris, 
all  the  glories  of  the  most  gorgeous  sunset,  all  the  beauties  of  the 
diamond  dawn.  There,  gold,  purple,  vermilion,  flaming  amethyst, 
violet,  blue,  and  stainless  white,  all  gleamed  together  in  the 
wilderness,  which  human  feet  seldom  trod,  to  be  seen  only  by  the 
careless  eye  of  the  unpoetic  hunter,  or  the  timid  glance  of  the 
spotted  fawn. 

"How  beautiful !"  exclaimed  young  Boiling,  as  he  pointed  out 
a  radiant  cluster,  more  lovely  than  ever  glitered  in  any  garden  of 
the  earth. 

"  There  is  one,"  said  General,  Houston,  directing  the  others 
attention  to  an  unpretending  and  rather  coarse  plant  just  before 
them  ;  "  which  is  by  far  more  beautiful  than  all  the  rest." 

"  That  lowly  weed  1  "  cried  the  youth,  in  amazement  ;  "  you 
must  refer  to  its  medicinal  virtues  ;  for  surely  such  a  thing  can 
never  yield  either  fragrance  or  flower  to  please  the  senses,  in 
comparison  with  the  vegetable  queens  of  the  forest  and  prairie." 

"  I  might  easily  overturn  your  reasoning  by  an  argument  ad 


326  BANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

hominem,  deduced  from  your  own  experience,"  replied  the  presi 
dent  with  a  sly  smile  :  "for  often,  the  most  unpromising  parents 
show  us  children  lovely  as  angels  ;  and  the  rudest  exterior  occa 
sionally  covers  a  beautiful  heart.  The  blossom,  of  which,  I  speak 
is  a  true  vegetable  time-piece.  It  never  unfolds  its  rainbow  petals 
to  the  burning  beams  of  day.  It  comes  not  forth,  like  so  many 
others,  at  the  dewy  dawn,  or  beneath  the  purple  shadows  of  the 
evening  twilight.  But  at  the  precise  hour  of  midnight,  it  opens 
wide  its  great,  glorious  eye  to  gaze  on  the  beauty  of  a  thousand 
stars,  and  to  breathe  its  divine  incense,  like  the  prayer  of  an 
humble  heart  when  all  the  universe  sleeps,  but  its  Almighty 
Maker  I " 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ROBBERS. 

WHILE  the  rangers  were  urging  their  way  with  tedious 
difficulty,  the  camp  of  the  outlaws  presented  a  wild,  almost 
romantic  appearance.  It  was  situated  on  a  small  mound-like 
elevation  of  dry  ground,  including  not  more  than  half  an  acre  in 
extent,  on  the  Texan  bank  of  the  Sabine,  and  surrounded  on  all 
sides  by  a  dismal  swamp,  impassable  only  at  one  or  two  particu 
lar  places,  known  but  to  the  robbers,  who  made  it  their 
hiding-place,  at  times  of  unusual  danger. 

Here,  two  tents  of  brown  canvas  had  been  stretched,  half-a- 
dozen  paces  apart,  one  for  the  accommodation  of  Carlyle  and 
the  officers  of  his  band,  and  the  other  for  the  two  females. 
Hundreds  of  leather-dressed,  coarse-featured  men,  with  arms  in 
their  hands,  or  by  their'  sides,  stood  conversing  in  groups,  or 
reclined  lazily  on  the  earth,  while  sentinels  had  been  stationed 
in  every  direction,  and  a  strong  force  of  choice  desperadoes 
guarded  every  possible  path  of  approach. 

A  little  before  sunset,  the  captain  and  his  first  lieutenant 
were  seated  by  themselves  in  their  tent,  the  latter  apparently  in 

827 


328       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

his  usual  gay  good  humor,  but  the  former  restless  and 
gloomy. 

"  You  seem  to  be  rather  melancholy,  this  evening,  cousin," 
remarked  Curran,  kindly  ;  "  you  need  not  entertain  the  least 
apprehension  that  old  Sam  will  ever  think  of  seeking  for  us 
here." 

"That  is  little  consolation,"  answered  the  other,  almost 
angrily  ;  "  the  infernal  turn  that  things  have  taken  will  disar 
range  all  our  plans.  The  slaves  have  already  discovered  that 
we  are  all  thieves  instead  of  liberators,  and  they  have  com 
menced  running  away  from  us,  by  the  dozen.  Most  of  our  own 
band  have  become  moody  and  dissatisfied,  and  if  the  devil's  luck 
continues,  will  very  soon  leave  us  and  shift  for  themselves." 

"  Then,  we  can  fly  to  some  new  country,  and  under  assumed 
names,  begin  again  our  lives,  with  the  lofty  resolution  and 
honest  purposes,  which  inspired  our  hearts  of  old  in  the  golden 
dreams  of  the  law-office,"  said  Curran,  with  a  look  of  enthu 
siasm. 

"We  can  never  re-cross  the  dark  river  of  crime  with  its 
billows  of  blood,  that  rolls  eternally  between  our  souls  and  the 
rainbow- winged  visions,  the  starry  hopes  of  our  early  youth," 
replied  the  captain,  with  a  profound  sigh. 

"  Such  memories  would  gradually  fade  away,  if  we  were  once 
environed  with  different  circumstances,  and  among  people,  who 
knew  us  not,  and  never  heard  of  us  before,"  urged  the  lieu 
tenant. 

"  A  change  of  scene  can  have  but  little  influence  911  the 
person^  unless,  indeed,  he  could  leave  his  nature  behind  him  " 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ROBBERS.  329 

"  But  you  forget  the  possibility  of  repentance,  that  transfor 
mation  of  the  heart,  which  the  wisest  and  best  of  our  race  assert 
with  so  much  confidence." 

"Repentance  ?"  ejaculated  Carlyle,  with  an  accent  of  intense 
bitterness  ;  "  the  very  term  is  folly  ;  for  how  can  one  repent  of 
actions  caused  by  irresistible  Fatality  ?  And  reformation — the 
idea  is  still  more  absurd  ;  for  who  can  alter  a  single  faculty  of 
his  mind,  a  solitary  emotion  that  burns  in  his  own  bosom  ?  Can 
you  render  the  tiger  tame  as  the  deer-hound  ?  Can  the  air, 
earth,  or  water,  be  metamorphosed  into  opposite  elements  ?" 

"The  wildest  beasts  of  the  woods  can  be  domesticated  by 
sufficiently  long  and  patient  labor,  and  every  aspect  of  the  uni 
verse  presents,  in  succession,  the  most  striking  scenes  of  miracu 
lous  transformation.  The  same  changing  sky  is  now  grey,  then, 
gleaming  silver,  next,  all  burning  gold,  blushing,  like  a  young 
virgin,  beneath  the  kisses  of  the  morning  sun,  then  radiant  blue 
— bluer  than  any  tint  of  indigo  on  the  earth  or  in  the  sea,  and 
lastly,  a  dome  of  stainless  azure,  sprinkled  with  flakes  of  stellar 
fire.  Lo  !  the  dew-drops  of  the  rosy  dawn,  exhaled  by  the  sum 
mer  sunbeams,  in  the  afternoon  become  thunder-clouds,  black  as 
the  mantle  of  midnight,  which,  in  their  turn,  change  into  smiling 
rainbows — beautiful  as  the  golden  lightning,  that  plays  beneath 
their  air-built  arches.  In  truth,  all  matter  is  but  a  magical 
Proteus  of  endless  changes  ;  then,  why  not  man  be  renewed, 
like  the  world  in  which  he  has  his  home  ?  Cannot  even  we  go 
back  again  to  our  morning,  and  feel  upon  our  hearts  the 
heavenly  dews  of  innocence,  as  in  the  hours  of  our  purple  prime, 


830       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

when  every  leaf  of  grass  was  a  young  glory,  and  all  the  flowers 
seemed  fresh  from  Eden  ?" 

"  The  transformations,  to  which  you  have  referred,"  said 
Carlyle,  with  a  sneer  ;  "  all  tend  to  overthrow  your  own  feeble 
fallacies  ;  for  every  one  of  them  is  but  the  inevitable  evolution 
of  natural  law." 

"  But  may  not  the  law  of  our  natures  also  have  endowed  us 
with  the  powers  of  free  volition,  to  aid,  at  least,  in  making  or 
marring  our  own  destinies  ?  The  warp  of  the  doom,  doubtless, 
is  spun  by  the  iron  fingers  of  the  inexorable  Fates,  but  we 
weave  in  the  woof  as  we  will." 

"Well,  however,  it  may  be,"  exclaimed  the  chief  robber, 
fiercely  ;  "  I  for  one,  would  not  reform  if  I  could.  I  shall  never 
exhibit  the  cowardly  meanness  of  seeking  to  avoid  the  conse 
quences  of  my  actions,  and  more  especially,  if  they  be,  as  you 
say,  the  result  of  my  voluntary  choice.  I  will  not  serve  the 
devil  in  fair  weather,  and  then  turn  towards  Heaven  with  hypo 
critical  tears  and  whining  prayers,  the  moment  there  comes  a 
storm." 

At  this  instant,  a  couple  of  horsemen,  with  marks  of  haste 
and  unfavorable  news  depicted  on  all  their  features,  galloped  up 
to  the  tent,  and  leaped  to  the  earth. 

"  What  now,  Roaring  Dick  ?  Why  have  you  left  your 
post  ?"  inquired  the  captain,  springing  to  his  feet,  with  an  air  of 
the  most  painful  anxiety,  while  the  robbers,  by  hundreds  rushed 
around  to  hear  the  message. 

"  The  rangers  are  marching  down  the  river,"  was  the  answer. 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ROBBERS.  331 

Carlyle  lost  color,  but  in  order  not  to  discourage  his  men, 
replied  calmly  : 

"  It  matters  not  ;  for  they  can  never  find  their  way  into  this 
swamp,  and  even  if  they  did,  not  one  of  them  would  ever  return 
to  tell  the  tale." 

"  But  I've  wus  news  nor  that,"  said  the  other  messenger  ; 
"the  folks  of  Harrison  county  have  all  turned  out,  and  licked 
our  boys  like  blazes,  and  they've  got  all  yer  niggers  from  Soda 
Lake." 

"  Is  that,  indeed,  true  ?"  exclaimed  the  chief,  trembling  with 
agitation. 

"  Yes,"  responded  the  other  ;  "and  thar  is  more  on  it.  Bill 
Barker  and  his  fellers  has  run  off  all  yer  darkies  from  yer  camp 
on  Red  River  into  Arkansas." 

"  Oh  !  the  villains  and  traitors  !"  shouted  Carlyle  in  a  parox 
ysm  of  furious  rage  ;  while'  the  bandits  around  him,  uttered  a 
wild  yell  of  dismay  and  grief,  at  the  loss  of  their  hard-earned 
booty  in  years  of  perilous  war  upon  society. 

"  The  captain  well  understood  the  effect,  which  such  malign 
intelligence  was  calculated  to  produce,  and  endeavored  to 
inspire  the  felons  with  hopes  which  his  own  reason  repudiated. 
He  urged  them  to  hold  the  present  position  until  the  Texan 
troops  should  be  withdrawn,  and  promised  then  to  lead  them 
into  Arkansas,  to  avenge  the  treason  of  their  false  confederates, 
and  recover  the  property,  which  had  been  carried  awa^. 

He  perceived,  however,  with  extreme  mortification,  that  all 
his  arguments,  menaces,  and  entreaties,  had  failed  to  restore  the 


332  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

confidence  of  the  ruffians,  who  soon  gathered  in  small  circular 
groups  on  the  verge  of  the  swamp,  discussing,  with  gloomy 
countenances  and  angry  gestures,  the  ominous  prospects  before 
them. 

Soon  the  sable  shadows  of  night  descended,  and  a  couple  of 
large  (ires  were  kindled  in  front  of  the  tents,  which  illumined, 
with  crimson  radiations,  a  circular  space  around  them,  shut  in 
by  walls  of  the  blackest  darkness,  weird  and  awful  to  behold, 
and  which  now  veiled  the  wild  forms  of  the  outlaws  on  the  edge 
of  the  swamp. 

Some  three  or  four  hours  after  nightfall,  as  the  leaders  were 
pacing  unquietly  backward  and  forward,  before  the  fire,  .Dublin 
Jack  advanced  with  a  prisoner  in  the  person  of  a  huge,  very 
black  negro,  remarking  as  he  presented  him  : 

"  Captain,  the  guard  found  this  ere  feller,  tryin'  to  git  into  yer 
camp." 

"  Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want  ?"  demanded  Carlyle, 
sternly. 

"  My  name  ar'  Caesar,  and  I'd  like  to  have,  my  freedom." 
replied  the  slave,  earnestly. 

"  To  whom  do  you  belong  ?" 

"  Massa  William  Boiling." 

The  chief  started  as  if  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake,  and  muttering 
an  imprecation,  gazed  into  the  large  white  eyes  of  the  African, 
with  a  look  of  suspicion.  At  length,  he  asked  : 

"  What  led  you  to  expect  freedom  by  coming  to' us  ?" 

"  Becaze  the  yaller  man,  what  them  call  Han,  at  Major 
Morrow's,  telled  me  so,  and  I  wur  in  the  big  nigger  meetin' 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ROBBERS. 

'mong  the  woods,  and  seed  that  gemman  thar,"  said  Caesar, 
pointing  at  Curran. 

"  He  says  nothing  but  the  truth,"  observed  the  latter  ;  "  I 
remember  to  have  noticed  him  at  the  time." 

In  the  meantime,  the  females  in  the  neighboring  tent,  had  not 
been  indifferent  spectators  of  this  scene.  Mary  had  turned 
mortally  pale,  the  instant,  when  she  perceived  the  black,  and 
could  hardly  suppress  a  wild  cry,  at  the  mention  of  her  lover's 
name. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake  be  calm,  and  do  not  betray  your  recog 
nition,  by  a  word  or  gesture  1"  urged  her  companion. 

"  Can  it  be  possible,  that  so  faithful  a  slave  will  betray  his 
kind  master  ?"  murmured  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Miles. 

"  Never  fear,"  consoled  Lucy  ;  "  he  is  only  acting  a  part,  as  I 
see,  from  the  cunning  gleam  of  his  eyes. 

Carlyle  continued  his  examination,  apparently  satisfied  with 
the  testimony  of  the  lieutenant  : 

"  Where  is  your  master  now  ?" 

"  With  Gineral  Houston's  army." 

"  And  where  are  they  ?" 

"  Comin'  down  the  river,  as  fast  as  'em  can." 

"  Do  they  know  the  situation  of  our  camp  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  fur  I  hern  'em  say,  'twur  strait  along  the  Sabine,  in  a 
powerful  swamp  ;  and  so  I  slipped  off  from  'em  ;  and  that's  how 
I  fotch  up  here." 

"  Have  they  any  one  to  guide  them  ?" 

"  I  can't  say,  massa,"  answered  Caesar,  shaking  his  head. 

"  There,  now,  that  will  do,  my  good  fellow,"  remarked  the 


334       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

captain,  thoroughly  deceived  by  the  statement  of  Curraii,  and 
the  innocence  of  the  African's  manner  ;  "  if  you  be  faithful  to  us, 
you  shall  be  free  in  a  few  days  ;  go  to  the  other  tent,  and  get 
your  supper.  Lucy,  give  this  man  something  to  eat." 

"  Certainly,  brother,"  replied  the  delighted  woman,  in  antici 
pation  of  some  important  message,  as  she  beckoned  the  slave  to 
her,  and  presented  him  a  plate  of  bread  and  meat. 

The  latter,  without  lifting  his  eyes  to  her  face,  slipped  into 
her  hand  a  soiled  piece  of  paper,  containing  only  these  words  : 

"  We  will  attack  the  robbers  at  midnight.  Trust  Caesar  for 
the  rest.  W.  B." 

Slowly  the  leaden-winged  hours  rolled  away,  until  the  noon  of 
darkness.  The  females  seemed  to  be  asleep  ;  and  Caesar  lay 
stretched  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  fire  from  their  tent,  filling 
the  air  with  the  sonorous  music  of  his  large,  dilated  nostrils. 
By  the  other  blaze  of  pine-knots,  sat  Colonel  Miles,  Carlyle,  and 
Curran,  discussing  as  busily  as  ever,  their  circumstances  and 
prospects  ;  while  at  the  distance  of  a  dozen  feet,  beneath  an 
enormous  oak,  stood  Roaring  Dick  and  Dublin  Jack,  with 
double-barrelled  shot-guns  on  their  shoulders,  their  florid,  sun 
burnt  visages,  in  the  lurid  illumination  of  the  pine  flame,  looking 
ghastly,  and  almost  infernal  in  every  lineament. 

A  solemn,  and  as  it  were,  unearthly  stillness  pervaded  the 
primeval  forest,  which  was  only  broken,  at  intervals,  by  the  ill- 
boding  screech  of  the  owl,  sounding  like  the  wail  of  a  fiend  in 
pain,  from  the  leafy  top  of  a  neighboring  tree,  or  the  distant 
howl  of  a  wolf  far  away  in  the  swamp,  calling  for  its  wandering 


THE  DEFAET  OF  THE  ROBBERS.  335 

mates.  A  scene  of  more  utter  solitude  could  not  well  be 
imagined. 

"  Suddenly  the  loud  booming  of  a  gun  broke  on  the  profound 
silence  : 

"  There,"  exclaimed  the  chief,  bounding  to  his  feet,  with  flash 
ing  eyes  ;  "  that  was  at  the  pass  into  the  swamp  1" 

"It  can  only  be  a  shot  at  some  wild  animal,"  suggested  Colo 
nel  Miles. 

'  No,"  answered  the  other  ;  "  I  gave  the  strictest  orders,  not 
to  discharge  a  barrel,  unless  as  a  signal,  that  the  enemy  had 
approached." 

"  Immediately,  there  followed  a  similar  report,  then  another, 
and  the  minute  afterwards,  a  terrible  volley,  which  seemed  to  be 
returned  by  a  roar  equally  awful. 

"  Now  for  the  combat  !"  shouted  Carlyle,  with  the  red  light 
of  battle  burning  on  his  face,  as  he  snatched  a  bugle  from  the 
tent-pole  above  his  head,  and  blew  a  loud,  lingering  blast. 
"  That  is  strange  !"  he  cried,  with  a  furious  countenance  ;  "  I 
get  no  answer." 

"  The  boys  must  be  asleep,"  said  Curran,  flying  towards 
the  edge  of  the  swamp,  and  followed  by  Dick  and  Dublin 
Jack. 

In  a  moment,  all  three  rushed  back,  exclaiming  : 

"  They  are  gone,  sentinels  and  all  1" 

Colonel  Miles  trembled  with  terror,  crying  in  horrified 
accents  : 

"  We  are  lost  !"  while  every  second,  the  distant  firing  grew 
more  appalling,  and  the  cries  of  the  combatants  floated  afar  on 


336  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF  THE  TANAHA. 

the  still  night  air,  like  the  wail  of  lost  souls,  bidding  a  mournful 
farewell  to  life  and  light  for  ever. 

For  a  brief  space  even  Carlyle  seemed  stupefied  by  the  fact, 
which  he  had  just  heard,  but  his  dark  eyes  renewed  their  fire, 
as  a  sudden  thought  darted  through  his  brain. 

"  Yes,"  he  said  ;  "  I  see  it  all.  The  wretches  had  started  to 
desert  me  ;  but  have  been  met  at  the  pass  by  the  rangers,  and 
will,  doubtless,  be  driven  back.  They  will  be  glad  enough  of  my 
assistance  now.  Not  an  instant  must  be  lost ;  let  us  fly  to  their 
rescue.  And  you,  Roaring  Dick,  take  care  of  the  two  women  ; 
you  must  answer  for  their  safety,  with  your  life.  Come  on,  all 
the  rest  ;"  and  away  they  flew  towards  the  scene  of  strife. 

As  soon  as  they  disappeared,  Lucy  advanced  to  the  seemingly 
slumbering  form  of  Caesar,  and  endeavored  to  arouse  him  ;  but 
the  nasal  intonations  continued  as  regularly  as  ever,  notwith 
standing  the  pinches,  which  she  gave  to  his  enormous  ears. 

"  What  ar'  y'at  thar,  gal  ?"  asked  Dick,  sharply,  who  had  not 
forgotten  his  suspicions  against  the  womam,  conceived  the  even 
ing  when  he  arrested  her  in  the  woods  of  the  Tanaha  bottom. 

"  I  want  to  waken  the  lazy  coward,  and  send  him  to  help  fight 
for  his  own  liberty  and  our  common  safety,"  replied  Lucy. 

11  Never  mind,  I'll  quickly  make  him  stir  his  black  stumps," 
said  Roaring  Dick,  coming  forwards,  and  striking  the  pretended 
sleeper  with  his  foot. 

But  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  the  African  seized  the  robber 
round  the  legs,  and  threw  him  over  on  the  earth.  A  frightful 
struggle  followed.  Tightly  clinched  in  each  other's  arms,  Dick 
had  no  opportunity  to  draw  his  weapons,  and,  indeed,  Lucy 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ROBBERS.  33 1 

managed  to  snatch  away  both  revolvers  from  his  belt.  The 
antagonists  seemed  very  equally  matched.  If  anything,  the  black 
man  possessed  the  greatest  muscular  power,  and  the  white,  the 
most  agility  and  skill.  They  swayed  to  and  fro,  rolled  over  and 
over,  each  in  his  turn  uppermost  and  beneath,  while  the 
females  gazed  with  pallid  features  on  the  contest,  which  would, 
in  all  probability,  decide  their  own  doom. 

At  last,  the  bandit  contrived  to  grasp  the  windpipe  of  his  foe, 
and  held  it  with  a  gripe  of  steel.  The  contest  was  virtually 
decided,  and  the  victor  uttered  an  exclamation  of  triumphant 
laughter,  as  the  other  lay  helpless  beneath  him.  But  at  the 
instant,  Lucy  glided  up  behind  him,  with  her  wild  black  eyes 
burning  like  live  coals,  and  plunged  a  long,  double-edged  dagger 
up  to  the  hilt,  in  the  giant's  heart.  With  a  low,  stifled  moan, 
he  fell  from  the  bosom  of  the  African,  and  immediately  expired. 

"  Ha  1"  cried  Lucy,  with  a  fearful  smile  on  her  livid  features ; 
"  there  lies  my  first  victim  ;  but  by  Heaven,  that  shall  not  be 
my  last  !" 

The  sound  of  the  firing  at  the  pass  into  the  swamp,  which,  for 
a  short  time  had  slackened,  now  roared  more  awfully  loud  than 
ever  ;  while  Lucy  exclaimed,  "  Carlyle  is  among  them.  Listen 
how  the  robbers  cheer  him.  What  if  he  should  fall  in  battle,  and 
cheat  me  yet  out  of  my  sweet  revenge  !  I  should  die  of  grief 
and  shame ! " 

Widely  different  were  the  feelings  of  the  beautiful  Mary,  as  the 
mournful  echoes  floated  on  the  air.  She  thought  of  her  father 
and  of  her  lover,  exposed  to  the  midnight  storm  of  that  murderous 
Sery  leaden  hail,  and  she  bowed  upon  her  knees  in  silent  prayer. 

15 


338        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

Soon,  however,  the  signs  of  the  conflict  again  began  to  die  in 
the  woods.  The  booming  of  the  shot  guns,  and  keener  cracks 
of  the  rifles  and  revolvers,  became  scattering,  at  longer  and 
longer  intervals,  and  drew  nearer  to  the  camp. 

"Ha  !  the  robbers  are  beaten — they  are  retreating — the  luck 
of  the  devil  has  tailed  him  at  last.  His  dream  of  golden  fortune 
has  turned  to  a  vision  of  burning  blood  !  He  shall  hang  high  on 
the  gallows-tree,  and  hear  my  howling  curses  1"  cried  the  bandit's 
mistress  in  a  wild  delirium  of  joy. 

"  We  had  better  be  hidin'  outer  thur  way.  before  they  git 
back,"  remarked  Caesar,  as  the  sounds  of  the  tumult  rapidly 
approached  ;  and  the  three  hurried  off  into  the  darkness,  and  hid 
themselves  in  a  thicket  of  bushes  on  the  bank  of  the  Sabine, 
from  which,  however,  they  could  both  see  and  hear  everything 
that  transpired  near  the  tents. 

In  a  couple  of  minutes  afterwards,  Colonel  Miles,  Carlyle,  and 
Curran  rushed  towards  the  fire,  their  clothing  torn  and  blood 
stained  and  their  visages  livid  as  death. 

"  Oh  !  Mary,"  cried  the  father.  "  Lucy  !  Lucy  !  where  are 
you  ? "  shouted  the  captain,  in  a  terrible  yoice,  as  he  glanced 
into  the  vacant  tent,  and  gnashed  his  teeth  furiously.  "  Roaring 
Dick  !  "  he  yelled  louder  ;  "  hell  and  the  fates  !  has  he  deserted 
me  too  ?" 

"  There  he  is  !"  answered  the  lieutenant,  pointing  at  the  corpse 
of  the  bandit. 

"  The  she-fiend  !  "  thundered  Carlyle  ;  "  that  is  her  work  ;  but 
I'll  roast  her  alive  for  it  yet  !  " 

As  he  spoke,  half  a  dozen  more  fugitives  emerged  from  the 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ROBBERS.  339 

darkness,  followed  by  the  rattle  of  a  sharp  volley,  and  the  victori 
ous  shout  of  the  rangers,  who  charged,  at  a  swift  run,  towards 
the  camp-fire. 

"  The  river  is  our  only  chance  !  "  exclaimed  Carlyle,  and  they 
all  fled  in  the  direction  which  he  indicated,  passing  within  six 
feet  of  the  bushes  which  concealed  the  females.  Not  one  of 
them  paused  an  instant,  but  leaped  over  the  steep  bank  with 
sullen  plunges  into  the  swift  current. 

11  Great  Heaven  I  has  he  indeed  escaped?"  almost  screamed 
Lucy,  as  she  wrung  her  hands  in  despair.  "Oh  !  merciful  God, 
preserve  my  poor  father  !  "  prayed  Mary  in  an  agony  of  grief. 

The  next  moment,  the  Texan  rangers  swarmed  to  the  spot, 
discharging  their  guns  at  the  surface  of  the  dark-rolling  river, 
wherever  an  object  appeared  on  its  surface  ;  and  several  wild 
yells  of  pain  and  terror,  told  that  some  of  the  shots  had  taken 
effect. 

'  "  Come  on,  boys,"  cried  the  savage  voice  of  Comanche  Ben  ; 
11  and  I'll  find  a  boat  half  a  mile  lower  down.  The  Captain 
would  not  let  the  rest  of  his  men  know  where  it  was,  for  fear 
they  would  run  away." 

Immediately,  Colonel  Henderson,  young  Boiling,  and  about 
fifty  others,  started  with  the  Indian  to  seek  a  passage  across  the 
stream.  Their  path  was  extremely  difficult,  and  their  horses 
nearly  mired  down  at  every  step,  while  their  course  meandered 
through  so  many  mazes,  that  no  one,  except  the  most  experienced 
guide,  could  have  toiled  successfully  among  its  numerous  crooked 
windings. 

At  last  they  gained  firm  ground,  and  the  Comanche,  point- 


340       BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OP  THE  TANAHA. 

ing  to  a  tangled  mass  of  greeii  cane,  remarked  ;  "  there  is  what 
will  carry  us  over,"  and  dismounting,  he  parted  the  jungle  with 
his  hands,  and  unmasked  a  boat  of  some  size. 

Instantly,  they  dragged  the  vessel  down  the  bank,  and  upon 
its  being  launched,  eight  persons  got  in,  and  rowed  across  the 
stream,  holding  their  halters  while  the  horses  came  swimming 
behind  them. 

"  Now,"  said  the  Indian,  as  they  landed  safely  on  the  Louis 
iana  shore  ;  "  one  of  you  go  back  for  more  help,  and  let  the 
others  follow  me  ;  the  woods  are  open  for  three  miles  up  the 
river,  where  there  is  a  swamp,  and  if  we  hurry,  we  can  overtake 
them  before  they  reach  that." 

They  leaped  into  their  saddles,  and  the  Comanche  with 
Colonel  Henderson,  and  Bolliug  leading  the  way,  the  party 
galloped  forwards.  The  forest,  consisting  of  tall  pine  trees, 
being  free  from  undergrowth,  they  were  enabled  to  ride  with  the 
greatest  speed,  and  flew  quickly  over  half  a  league,  when  they 
discovered  a  couple  of  dark  forms  some  hundred  paces  before 
them  in  the  starlight. 

"  Yonder  they  are  !  "  exclaimed  the  Indian,  and  in  a  moment 
they  arrived  at  the  spot,  but  the  fugitives  seemed  to  have  disap 
peared. 

"  They  have  sheltered  themselves  in  a  hollow  tree,"  said  the 
guide,  and  the  rangers  sprung  to  the  earth,  and  commenced  an 
eager  search  in  all  directions. 

As  young  Boiling  passed  by  a  large  log  in  the  vicinity,  he  per- 
cieved  that  the  end  was  hollow,  and  stooping  down  to  look  in,  a 
pair  of  demoniac  black  eyes,  gleaming  like  fire  balls,  met  his 


*-. 

THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ROBBERS.  341 

gaze.  He  uttered  a  loud  exclamation,  which  drew  the  remainder 
of  the  company  to  the  point,  and  seizing  the  robber  by  the  hair, 
dragged  him  from  his  hiding-place. 

Carlyle  attempted  a  desperate  resistance,  but  having  been 
forced  to  throw  away  his  heavy  revolvers  in  swimming  the  Sabine, 
his  efforts  proved  ineffectual,  and  he  was  soon  overpowered 
and  fastened  with  cords  cut  from  the  halters  of  the  horses. 

"  Where  is  your  companion  ?"  demanded  Colonel  Henderson, 
aiming  a  pistol  at  the  outlaw's  bosom.  "  Where  is  he  ?" 
repeated  the  fiery  officer,  "tell  me,  or  I'll  blow  out  your 
heart I" 

"  Like  a  cowardly  dog,  as  you  are  1"  said  the  robber,  with 
a  scornful  chuckle. 

"  Do  not  shoot  !  here  I  am,"  cried  the  voice  of  Curran  from 
the  fallen  tree  ;  and  he  came  out  and  delivered  himself  up. 

The  party  with  their  prisoners  then  moved  again  down  the 
river,  searching  for  Colonel  Miles  and  the  remaining  rogues,  but 
in  vain.  They  could  find  no  traces  of  the  others,  and  concluded 
with  strong  reasons,  that  they  must  all  have  been  either  shot, 
or  drowned  in  the  rushing  stream.  If  the  truth  must  be  told, 
young  Boiling  hoped  most  sincerely,  that  such  might  turn  out  to 
be  the  case. 

In  the  meantime  a  somewhat  singular  scene  was  being  enacted 
at  the  camp  of  the  outlaws.  Immediately  after  the  departure 
of  the  party  in  pursuit  of  Carlyle  and  his  comrade,  Caesar  with 
the  two  females  emerged  from  their  concealment,  and  advanced 
to  the  fire,  where  they  saw  General  Houston. 

The  president,  with  his  usual  polished  and  dignified  courtesy, 


342       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

extending  a  hand  to  each,  greeted  them  in  his  rich  winning 
tones  :  "  Ladies,  believe  me,  I  value  this  as  the  proudest  vic 
tory  with  which  fortune  has  ever  been  pleased  to  favor  me  ; 
since  by  it  I  am  enabled  to  free  youth  and  beauty,  from  their 
gloomy  imprisonment  among  murderers  and  outlaws." 

"  Oh  !  General,  cried  Mary,  weeping  as  if  her  heart  would 
break  ;  "  show  mercy  to  my  poor  father  1" 

"  I  will  do  all  that  I  can  consistently  with  the  claims  of 
public  justice,"  replied  the  president,  evading  the  petition  ;  "  but 
he  may  not  need  any  clemency  ;  for  the  colonel  is  not  yet  cap 
tured,  and  very  probably,  will  not  be.  But  has  not  the  other 
lady  here,  also  some  request  to  offer  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes,  your  excellency,"  said  Lucy  in  anxious  tones,  while 
her  dark  eyes  blazed  with  strange  flashes  of  fire  ;  "  I  pray  you 
to  have  Captain  Carlyle  tried  by  a  regular  court  of  law,  for  the 
crime  of  willful  murder,  and  then  let  him  be  executed  by  the  com 
mon  hangman,  like  a  cold-blooded,  cruel  assassin,  as  he  is  !  " 

"  But,  my  dear  Miss,  where  shall  we  obtain  the  evidence  to 
substantiate  the  fact,  which  you  allege  ?  "  inquired  Houston. 

"  I  will  furnish  the  fullest  proofs,"  she  asserted,  with  a  look 
of  absolute  assurance  ;  "  I  am  myself  a  witness,  and  Comanche 
Ben  will  show  you  the  graves,  where  he  buried  his  victims." 

"  Who  were  they  ?  " 

"  A  Parson  Cole  and  Bob  Bennet." 

"Would  you  not  be  as  well  pleased,  if  he  should  die  under 
martial  law  ? "  asked  the  president,  wondering  much  at  the 
revengeful,  though  enchanting  visage  of  the  woman,  whom  he 
suspected  to  be  the  robber's  mistress. 


THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ROBBERS.  343 

"  By  no  means,"  she  answered  ;  "for  the  latter  method  of  tak 
ing  leave  of  life  is  not  so  unutterably  disgraceful  as  the  former  ; 
and  besides,  I  will  also  have  time  to  learn  from  his  own  lips,  the 
hiding-places  where  he  has  buried  his  treasures,  as  well  as  the 
haunts  where  his  confederates  keep  their  stolen  slaves." 

"  Very  well,  it  shall  be  as  you  wish,"  assented  the  General, 
"  for  it  is  the  best  course." 

"  Then,  your  Excellency,"  said  Lucy  with  a  sweet,  bewitching 
smile  ;  "let  the  Indian's  testimony  alone  be  taken  before  the 
committing  magistrate,  and  suffer  not  my  agency  to  appear  in 
the  matter  until  the  hour  of  trial." 

"  I  give  you  my  promise,  to  that  effect,"  affirmed  Houston  ; 
"  but  the  Captain  must  have  injured  you  most  deeply  to  account 
for  your  feelings  of  hatred  !  " 

"  Oh!  he  has  ruined  me  utterly  and  forever  ! r  she  whispered 
in  accents  of  indescribable  bitterness  ;  while  her  entire  frame 
shook  with  the  intensity  of  her  passion,  and  burning  tears  of 
rage  stood  in  her  dark  eyes. 

After  the  lapse  of  some  hour  and  a  half,  a  loud  exclamation 
was  heard,  at  the  distance  of  a  hundred  yards  below  on  the 
bank  of  the  Sabine  ;  "  we  have  caught  the  villains  1  here  they 
are  ! " 

Lucy  requested  the  president;  "your  Excellency,  let  me 
and  my  companion  retire,  and  draw  down  the  front  sheet  of  the 
tent.  I  do  not  wish  Carlyle  to  know  where  I  am  to-night ; n  and 
the  two  females  disappeared  beneath  the  canvas. 

The  general  immediately  ordered  Colonel  Henderson  to  go  on 


344        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

with  the  two  prisoners,  and  lodge  them,  under  a  strong  guard, 
in  the  jail  at  Shelbyville. 

Young  Boiling,  who  had  joined  so  ardently  in  the  pursuit,  in 
order  to  save  Mary's  father,  now  rushed  forward,  with  eager 
inquiring  eyes,  to  which  the  president  responded,  by  raising  the 
convas  in  front  of  the  tent,  and  the  lover  and  his  maiden  met 
once  more. 

It  would  be  a  species  of  profanation  to  paint  their  emotions, 
or  repeat  their  words — holy  as  the  love  of  their  young  hearts  ! 


CHAPTER  XXY. 

MAJOR  MORROW   AND   DAVE  TUTTLE. 

WHEN  tne  arch-lyncher,  Major  Morrow,  effected  his  escape,  by 
urging  his  horse  to  the  frightful  leap  over  the  tall  fence  into  the 
jungle  of  black  thorns,  as  soon  as  he  could  crawl  away  a  suffi 
cient  distance  for  safe  concealment,  his  first  care  was  to  examine 
the  extent  of  his  injuries.  Fortunately  for  him,  the  animal  had 
broken  down  the  brush  of  the  thicket,  as  it  fell  to  the  earth,  and 
being  dressed  completely  in  leather,  he,  therefore,  received  no 
wounds  of  any  severity  except  some  ugly  scratches  about  the 
face. 

But  the  deepest,  the  most  enduring  scar  of  all  had  been  made, 
beyond  the  reach  of  human  sight  in  the  bleeding  depths  of  his 
proud  and  passionate  heart.  He  had  lost  all,  his  fame,  his  fair 
character,  his  influence,  the  prestige  of  a  success,  that  hitherto 
had  never  deserted  him  for  a  moment.  His  wealth  gone,  his 
sons  slain  before  his  eyes,  and  the  everlasting  terrors  of  the  law, 
suspended  above  his  head,  nothing  now  remained  but  the  miser 
able  life  of  a  fugitive  from  justice. 

15*  845 


346       BANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TAN  AH  A. 

There  are  moments  in  the  existence  of  every,  even  the  most 
uupoetic  individual,  when  all  the  events  in  the  long  history  of 
the  consciousness,  which  has  past,  are  suddenly,  and  as  it  were, 
simultaneously  revealed,  as  by  a  flash  of  internal  lightning,  that 
searches  out  the  darkest  secrets  in  all  the  caverns  of  the  soul, 
and  reproduces  each  faded  fact  of  memory,  until  the  entire  life  lies 
before  us,  not  in  severed  fragments,  but  as  a  homogeneous  whole 
— a  present  picture,  with  all  its  lines  of  light  and  shadow,  misty, 
mournful,  yet  vivid  as  the  images  of  those  strange  dreams,  which 
defiant  of  the  laws  of  time  and  space,  crush  ages  of  joy  or  grief 
into  an  instant. 

Such  minutes  of  miraculous  retrospection  come  at  no  particular 
season,  nor  in  any  given  mood  of  the  mind  ;  but  apparently  free 
from  the  ordinary  fetters  of  association,  and  beyond-the  control  of 
psychological  causes,  as  if  breathed  into  our  hearts  by  inspiration, 
or  the  supernatural  whispers  of  the  angel  or  demon,  that  rules  our 
earthly  destiny,  they  visit  us  at  all  hours  alike — at  the  gay 
bridal,  beside  the  gloomy  grave,  in  the  merry  avenue  of  the 
bright  metropolis,  and  beneath  the  solemn  shadows  of  the  old  wild 
woods,  when  the  sun  burns  in  the  zenith  at  noonday,  and  when 
the  darkened  night  shows  all  her  stars.  The  sound  of  a  voice, 
the  sight  of  a  summer  cloud,  the  warble  of  a  bird,  one  tone  of 
the  evening  wind,  the  pattering  of  rain  on  the  house-top,  the  low 
moans  of  the  pine  forest,  the  climax  of  pleasure,  the  crisis  of 
mortal  peril,  everything  and  anything,  or  nothing,  can  touch 
this  electric  chain  of  our  being,  and  bring  back  again  all  the  dea<3 
that  once  lived  in  our  hearts,  all  the  perished  pictures  of  fact 
and  feeling  from  the  darkest  dells  of  moonlight  memory. 


MAJOR  MORROW  AND  DAVE  TDTTLE.  347 

Such  an  emotion,  and  the  first  that  his  coarse,  cruel,  hardened 
nature  had  ever  experienced,  mastered,  for  a  short  time,  the 
mind  of  the  regulator,  as  the  full  extent  of  his  misfortune  burst 
upon  his  view.  All  his  ruthless  deeds,  all  his  many  murders, 
every  heart  which  his  fierce  hand  had  broken,  every  bitter  tear 
that  it  had  wrung  from  other  eyes,  recurred,  at  once  to  his 
recollection,  and  thrilled  his  soul  with  horror. 

He  rolled  upon  the  ground  in  agony.  He  tore  up  the  young 
grass  with  furious  teeth.  He  dashed  his  head  against  the 
sharp  thorns,  foaming  at  the  mouth  like  a  mad  dog.  Suddenly 
he  sprung  upon  his  feet,  and  gazing  with  an  awful  smile  upon 
his  pistol — that  darling  weapon,  which  had  shed  blood  enough 
to  cool  its  iron,  had  it  been  red-hot  from  the  fires  of  a  forge,  he 
exclaimed,  in  a  loud  demoniac  whisper  : 

"  No,  I  will  not  fly,  like  a  coward,  from  my  home.  I  will  not 
leave  the  dead  bodies  of  my  children  to  be  buried  by  my  enemies. 
They  shall  not  hunt  me  as  a  wolf,  from  bush  to  bush  through  all 
the  wild  woods  !  I  will  return,  and  die  at  my  own  door  !  but 
several  of  them  shall  bear  me  company  in  the  quick  journey  to 
everlasting  hell  !  let  me  see  how  many — one,  two,  three,  yes,  I 
have  half-a-dozen  loads  still  left  ;  and  I  will  take  with  me  six 
souls  as  presents  for  the  devil  !" 

As  he  spoke,  the  cries  of  the  rangers,  searching  the  thicket, 

• 
came  nearer,  and  he  crouched  down  again  in  the  jungle,  like  a 

hunted  tiger. 

11  No,"  he  said  to  himself,  in  the  same  hissing,  inhuman  whis 
per  ;  "  I  will  not  now  throw  away  my  life  by  an  act  of  folly.  I 
will  keep  it  for  a  richer  feast  of  revenge.  I  will  become  a  wi!4 


348       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OP  THE  TANAHA. 

man  of  the  woods.  I  will  wait,  watch,  waylay,  and  shoot  them 
one  by  one,  till  the  last  foe  licks  the  dust.  I  will  combine  with 
the  robbers,  the  Comanches,  and  the  devil — do  and  endure 
everything,  to  avenge  the  blood  of  my  sons,  and  my  own  unspeak 
able  disgrace  !" 

He  crept  away  on  his  hands  and  knees  through  the  green 
bushes,  pausing  when  he  heard  the  approach  of  his  pursuers,  who 
often  came  within  five  paces  of  where  he  lay,  and  creeping  on 
again  as  they  receded.  In  this  dangerous  and  tedious  manner, 
he  finally  gained  the  former  council-ground,  where  the  commit 
tee  had  first  opened  their  rebellious  proceedings,  and  their  captives 
had  been  put  to  the  torture.  Here,  perceiving  no  one  within 
sight,  he  rushed  into  the  large  hollow  of  the  sycamore,  and 
ascended  to  the  same  internal  knotty-projection,  where  Carlyle 
had  once  seated  himself  to  witness  the  organization  of  the  regu 
lators. 

Here  he  listened  to  the  clamorous  cries  of  the  Texan 
troopers,  as  they  wandered  through  the  forest,  calling  to  each 
other,  and  hunting  everywhere  for  their  human  prey.  At 
length,  he  saw  a  strong  party  advancing  directly  towards  his 
place  of  refuge,  and  gave  up  all  for  lost.  As  they  halted 
beneath  the  tree,  one  of  them  pointed  at  the  hideous  corpse  of 

Bob  Taylor,  which  still  dangled  from  the  same  limb,  exclaiming, 

• 
"There,  boys,  is  a  robber,  that  old  Morrow  hung  yesterday." 

"  I  wish  that  he  had  served  all  of  the  black  band  in  the  same 
way,  and  then  committed  suicide  himself,"  answered  another, 
laughing,  and  the  group  went  on. 

As  they  gained  the  edge  of  the  thicket,  however,  the  lyncher 


MAJOR  MORROW  AND  DAVE  TUTTLE.  349 

heard  the  commander  of  the  group  give  the  order,  "  Bill,  you 
stay  at  this  point  for  half  an  hour,  and  watch  if  any  of  the 
rascals  pass." 

The  attention  of  the  major  was  now  occupied  with  two 
objects,  equally  horrible  to  his  eye  and  imagination,  and  he 
gazed  alternately  at  the  form  of  the  ranger,  some  thirty  yards 
distant,  and  then  at  the  corpse  of  his  victim,  but  a  few  feet  from 
the  small  hole  in  the  hollow  wood,  through  which  he  was 
enabled  to  observe  both.  At  last  the  Texan  departed,  and  left 
the  fugitive  alone  with  the  dead.  His  emotions  grew  terrible 
in  their  wild  unutterable  horror.  The  staring  stony  eye -balls 
of  the  corpse  were  turned  towards  him,  as  if  with  conscious 
upbraidings  of  his  cruelty.  The  bloated  blackened  features 
seemed  to  scowl  upon  him  still  with  infernal  rage,  and  the  fallen 
jaw  disclosed  the  great  white  teeth  in  a  ghostly  hellish  grin, 
that  said  plainly,  as  if  the  sentence  had  been  uttered  in  words, 
"  Lo  !  I  am  avenged  1" 

Presently,  a  flock  of  ravens,  which  had  been  scared  away  by 
the  troopers,  with  savage  croaks,  like  the  cries  of  dark-coated 
devils  as  they  were,  came  back  to  finish  their  fearful  feast.  The 
murderer  beheld  their  fierce  bills,  contending  for  the  eyes,  the 
lips,  and  all  the  dainty  morsels  of  the  human  carcass,  fighting, 
shouting,  screaming,  as  it  were,  with  yells  of  diabolical  laugh 
ter. 

"  Oh  1"  he  moaned,  in  mental  anguish,  "  shall  such  a  doom 
ever  be  mine  ?" 

"  Croak  !  croak  !  caw — huzza  !"  answered  the  ill-omened 
birds  of  Fate,  screaming  more  wildly,  revelling  more  infernally 


350  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OF  THE  TAN  AHA. 

over  their  horrid  meal,  and  calling  all  the  crows  and  vultures 
to  their  orgies. 

The  conscience-stricken  man  could  endure  the  vision  no 
longer,  but  gave  an  involuntary  cry,  which  frightened  off  the 
unclean  fowls,  yelling  their  maledictions  as  they  flew. 

The  major,  however,  trembled  with  apprehension,  as  he  saw 
that  his  silly  exclamation  had  attracted  towards  his  asylum  a 
human  figure,  coming  at  a  swift  run.  The  face  was  so  much 
deformed  by  bleeding  wounds,  that  the  very  mother  of  such  a 
son  would  have  failed  to  recognize  her  own  child  ;  and,  indeed, 
the  old  lyncher  had  little  time  for  observation,  as  the  instant 
after  the  first  glimpse,  the  other  rushed  into  the  hollow  syca 
more,  and  began  to  climb  upwards. 

Morrow  instantly  cocked  his  pistol,  and  pointed  the  muzzle 
down  at  the  ascending  head  of  his  supposed  foe  ;  but  the 
second  before  he  would  have  fired,  a  voice  below  inquired, 
"  Major,  are  you  there  ?" 

"Yes,  Mose  Miller,  is  that  you?"  said  the  chief,  rejoiced  to 
find  the  bravest  desparado  of  his  band. 

"What  is  left  of  me,"  answered  the  other.  "Move  up 
higher,  and  let  me  have  your  seat." 

"  Morrow,  with  much  difficulty,  clambered  to  a  greater  eleva 
tion,  and  obtained  a  somewhat  similar  footing,  but  far  more 
unpleasant,  and  where  the  hole  in  the  hollow  wood  was  still 
smaller  than  the  one  beneath. 

"  Keep  a  sharp  lookout  there,  Miller,  to  notice  if  anybody 
appears,"  ordered  the  chief. 

"  I  can  hardly  see  for  the  blood  in  my  eyes,"  responded  Mose. 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND   DAVE   TTJTTLE.  351 

"  Are  you  badly  hurt  ?" 

"  Not  dangerously,  I  think,  but  the  cut  is  on  my  forehead, 
and  the  claret  runs  rather  freely,"  said  the  other. 

A  few  minutes  afterwards,  footsteps  resounded  on  the  other 
side  of  the  tree,  and  soon  came  to  the  opening,  where  they 
paused.  Then  a  voice  called  out — "Run  here,  Mr.  Moore. 
Thar's  some  sorter  game  up  this  holler,  or  my  name's  not 
Tuttle." 

"  Great  God  !  I  am  lost  1"  thought  the  lyncher  ;  "  that  is 
Sol." 

"  How  do  you  know,  Dave  I"  asked  a  more  youthful  and 
polished  tone,  eagerly. 

"  Becaze  thar's  warm  blood  droppin'  down  here,  and  that's  a 
sartin  sign,  I  reckon." 

"Then  I  will  owe  my  death  to  Mose,"  thought  the  major,  "  I 
wish  that  I  had  shot  him  1" 

"You  are  right,  Dave  Tuttle,"  remarked  young  Moore. 
11  Doubtless,  a  wouuded  regulator  has  concealed  himself  in  this 
hollow,  and  I  hope  it  may  prove  to  be  old  Morrow." 

"  And  I  guess  I  does  too,"  affirmed  his  companion  ;  "  but  you 
must  let  me  kill  him." 

"  No,  I  must  have  that  honor,"  urged  Alfred  Moore,  "  he 
caused  the  death  of  my  poor  brother,  and  his  son  did  the  cruel 
deed  !" 

"  But  did  he  not  bury  my  brother  alive  in  Missouri  ?"  said 
Tuttle,  sharply  ;  "  and  I'll  cut  his  breath,  or  have  a  fight  for 
ft." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  it  matters  not  much  by  whose  hand  he  dies, 


352  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

and  so  I  will  yield  my  right  to  your  antecedent  claim,"  assented 
Moore. 

Dave  then  moved  stealthily  in  a  circle  at  the  distance  of  ten 
paces  around  the  sycamore,  scanning  its  trunk  with  keen  glances, 
when  he  suddenly  paused,  exclaiming,  "  There's  two  pair  of  eye 
balls,  I'll  be  sworn  I"  and  he  raised  his  pistol  and  fired  at  the 
lower  hole. 

But  the  lyncher,  having  marked  the  gesture,  withdrew  his 
head,  and  the  bullet  missed  its  aim.  Tuttle  rushed  to  the  foot 
of  the  trunk,  and  discharged  his  revolver  in  rapid  succession, 
three  times  up  the  hollow. 

The  roar  in  that  confined  air  was  deafening  as  a  thunder  clap, 
and  the  shuddering  fugitives  felt  themselves  almost  stunned  by 
the  shock,  as  well  as  stifled  by  the  smoke  of  the  powder  ;  but 
protected  by  the  knots  beneath,  they  nevertheless  escaped  with 
out  any  wounds. 

"  We  can't  git  'em  that  ar  way,"  whispered  Tuttle  in  the  ear 
of  his  comrade  ;  "  let  us  fust  stop  'em  up,  and  then  we  can  study 
what  to  do."  And  the  two  immediately  dragged  several  large 
limbs,  that  lay  around,  and  soon  filled  up  the  entrance  com 
pletely. 

From  the  noise  of  their  efforts,  and  the  increased  darkness 
within,  Mose  Miller  conjectured  the  frightful  purpose  of  his  foes, 
and  cried  in  accents  awful  as  the  howl  of  a  wild  beast :  "  Oh  ! 
Major,  they  are  barring  up  the  hole  at  the  foot  of  the  tree  1 
My  God  !  we  are  gone  !" 

"  Let  us  descend  and  prevent  it,"  yelled  the  chief  j  "  get  down 
quickly  as  you  can." 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND   DAVE   TUTTLE.  353 

"  Then  they  will  shoot  me  I"  ejaculated  Mose  j  "  for  I  lost  my 
revolver  in  the  flight." 

*'  Damn  you  !  go  down  this  instant,  or  I'll  shoot  you  !"  shouted 
Morrow,  striking  the  other's  head  with  his  heel. 

In  a  moment  both  were  laboring  to  remove  the  obstruction  to 
their  egress  ;  but  all  such  attempts  seemed  unavailing  ;  for  their 
enemies  without  continued  to  pile  logs  as  heavy  as  they  could  lift 
against  the  entrance,  and  filled  every  crevice  with  pine  knots. 

The  agony  of  the  prisoners  became  intense.  Mose  in  partic 
ular  was  boisterous  in  his  mingled  prayers  and  curses.  One 
instant  calling  on  Heaven,  with  appalling  imprecations,  and  the 
next,  imploring  his  pitiless  jailors  for  mercy.  At  last  he 
managed  to  open  a  crack  sufficient  to  thrust  forth  his  arm  ;  but 
he  immediately  jerked  it  back  with  an  indescribable  howl  of  pain, 
his  hand  being  mashed  to  a  jelly  of  blood  and  shattered  bones. 

The  Major  seized  the  opportunity  to  discharge  his  revolver 
through  the  crevice,  and  deceived  by  the  pretended  groans  of 
Tuttle,  unluckily  for  himself,  fired  off  every  barrel.  "  There  1" 
he  exclaimed,  in  tones  of  ferocious  triumph  ;  "  I  think  that  one 
of  the  villains,  at  least,  has  got  a  dose  of  blue  pills  in  him  that 
he  wont  digest  in  a  hurry  1" 

Dave  Tuttle  answered  with  peals  of  mocking  laughter  :  "  All 
right  on  this  side  of  the  tree  ;  how  is  it  in  thar,  old  coon  ? 
Each  good  turn,  they  say,  desarves  another,  and  as  you  buried 
one  of  my  daddy's  sons  alive  in  Missouri,  now  I'm  even  with  you, 
I  reckon  1" 

"  Let  me  out,  and  fight  me  like  a  man  1"  said  Morrow,  in 
doleful  accents. 


354        RANGERS  AND  REGULATOR3  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  Did  ye  fight  my  brother  like  a  man  ?"  exclaimed  Dave,  in 
awful  tones  ;  "  did  ye  gin  him  even  the  chance  of  a  dog  ?  No, 
old  devil,  you'd  better  say  yer  prayers,  fur  ye'll  never  see  day 
light  agin  !" 

Alfred  Moore  then  suggested  :  "  Let  us  set  the  heap  on  fire, 
and  roast  them,  as  they  sought  to  serve  your  brother,  Sol  !" 

"  That's  a  rich  idea  !"  replied  Dave  ;  "  we'll  do  it — burn  'em 
up  like  snakes  !" 

They  hurried,  and  brought  some  live  coals  that  remained 
among  the  ashes  from  the  fire  of  the  previous  day,  and  kindled 
a  bright  blaze. 

:<  Oh  !  for  pity's  sake,  do  not  burn  us  to  death  1"  entreated 
Mose  Miller,  in  accents  inconceivably  mournful. 

"  Cowards  !  fiends  !  give  us  a  chance  like  men  1"  shouted  the 
major,  in  a  voice  terrible  as  the  roar  of  a  lion. 

But  the  response  came  in  bursts  of  merciless  laughter,  while 
the  funeral  flame  increased  every  moment.  Even  the  destroying 
element  seemed  to  rejoice  over  its  human  prey.  It  licked  every 
crevice  in  the  pyre  with  its  long,  laughing-tongues,  red  as  the 
hues  of  living  blood.  It  sung,  crackled,  roared,  fairly  shouted, 
as  if  with  infernal  glee,  and  drowned  the  cries  of  the  doomed 
men. 

The  last  articulate  sound  heard  was  the  wild,  wailing  prayer 
of  Mose  Miller  :  "  Mercy  !  mercy  !  I  did  not  kill  your 
brother  !" 

The  countenance  of  Dave  Tuttle  changed  instantly  as  if  by 
magic.  His  features  grew  mortally  pale,  and  trembling  in  every 
limb,  he  exclaimed  in  hollow  tones  :  "  Cuss  me  if  I  can  do  it  !' 


MAJOR   MORROW   AND   DAVE   TUTTLE.  355 

and  commenced  scattering  the, brands  in  the  utmost  haste.  The 
combustible  fuel  of  pine-knots  being  removed,  the  flame  ceased, 
and  the  larger  logs,  not  yet  having  become  ignited,  nothing 
was  left  but  the  smoke  and  some  embers  beneath  the  heap,  or 
live  cools  that  could  not  be  taken  away  with  the  naked  hand. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Dave  ?"  asked  young  Moore,  in  the 
wildest  astonishment. 

"  Cuss  me,  if  I  can  do  it  I"  responded  Tuttle  solemnly  ;  "  it's 
wusser  nor  the  Comanches  and  cowardly  Mexicans.  I  never  yit 
did  kill  a  man  without  giving  him  a  fair  show,  and  I  wish  I  may 
turn  to  a  wolf,  if  I  ever  do  !  and,  although  the  old  wretch  did 
bury  my  poor  brother  alive,  that's  no  reason  for  me  to  make 
myself  as  bad  as  him." 

At  the  moment,  the  look  of  Dave  had  a  certain  air  of  sub 
limity.  His  figure  towered  up  to  its  full  height.  His  bosom 
expanded  with  the  consciousness  of  nobility  in  act  and  feeling, 
and  his  sunburnt  swarthy  face  was  illumined  by  a  rich  radiance 
of  generous  and  indescribable  bravery. 

"  Then  what  do  you  intend  to  do  ?"  inquired  the  other. 

"  Open  the  hog-hole  fur  'em  to  crawl  out,"  answered  the  rough 
hero,  "  and  fight  'em  like  a  true  Texan." 

"  But  they  will  probably  shoot  you  down  the  instant  when 
they  get  a  sight  of  your  person,"  suggested  Alfred  Moore. 

"  I'll  fix  'em  fur  that,"  affirmed  Dave  Tuttle  with  a  sly 
wink. 

He  then  made  a  small  opening,  and  inquired,  "  ar  y'all  alive 
and  kickin'  in  thar  ?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  half-stifled  voice  of  Mose  Miller  ;  "  bu* 


356  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

we  are  almost  suffocated  with  the^smoke.  For  the  love  of  &od 
let  us  out  I" 

"  I  will,  if  ye'll  promise  to  fight  us  a  fair  jewel  on  the  spot," 
said  Dave. 

"  We  do — we  do,'7  answered  both  prisoners  in  the  same 
breath. 

"  Then  poke  us  out  yer  weapons,  so  you  can't  unexpected  git 
any  advantage,"  ordered  the  other,  imperatively. 

Hardly  able  to  credit  his  senses  at  such  magnanimity,  the 
major  handed  over  his  revolver  through  the  crevice  in  the  wall 
of  the  besiegers. 

"  Is  that  all  ?"  interrogated  Dave. 

"'Yes  ;  I  swear  it  is,"  responded  Miller,  "  for  I  lost  my 
pistol  in  the  flight." 

Tuttle  then  pulled  away  the  logs,  one  by  one,  while  his  friend 
stood  with  his  revolver  cocked,  ready  to  fire,  if  he  should 
observe  the  slightest  token  of  danger  from  the  liberated  cap 
tives. 

Such  instances  of  heroic  generosity  are  not  unfrequent  among 
the  most  reckless  desperadoes  of  the  backwoods.  Men  whose 
right  arms  have  been  crimsoned  with  human  blood  to  the  very 
elbow,  shed  on  the  miscalled  field  of  honor,  and  in  sudden 
encounters,  where  the  chances  are  equally  balanced,  neverthe 
less,  disdain  to  attack  an  unprepared  foe,  or  to  deal  one  stroke 
which  cannot  be  returned.  And  yet  these  persons,  without 
discrimination,  as  an  entire  class,  have  been  stigmatized  as 
ruffians  by  writers  who  scruple  not  to  perpetrate  more  deadly 
stabs  with  their  steel  pens,  than  were  ever  given  by  the  point 


MAJOR    MORROW    AND    DAVE   TUTTLE.  35 7 

of  the  poisoned  dagger,  or  the  keenest  blade  of  the  bowie 
knife  !  For  what  are  all  material  tortures  in  comparison  with 
the  crucifying  pangs  of  the  mind,  murdered  in  its  dearest  memo 
ries,  its  fondest  loves,  its  brightest  hopes  ?  How  many  of  the 
rich,  in  the  gay  capitals  of  commerce  show  mercy  to  the  break 
ing  hearts  of  the  poor,  ground  into  the  dust  by  their  cunning 
monopolies  !  Aye,  the  most  clear-headed  and  calm  philosopher, 
the  most  warm-souled  philanthropist,  the  greatest  eulogist  on 
urban  civilization,  to  be  candid,  must  confess  that  there  are 
other  competitions  more  fearful  than  battles  with  revolvers,  and 
the  willful  homicide  of  happiness  and  reputation  is  the  worst 
species  of  possible  assassination  ! 

As  soon  as  Miller  and  Morrow  emerged  from  their  smoky 
prison,  Dave  saw  that  they  were  indeed  disarmed,  and  remarked 
quietly,  "  well,  gentlemen,  I  will  now  load  the  revolvers,  and  let 
you  take  yer  choice." 

"  But  I  can't  fight,"  urge^Mose. 

•'  Why  not  ?"  inquired  Tuttle  with  a  look  of  surprise  ;  "  you 
seemed  willin'  enough,  when  you  tuk  me  and  brother  Sol." 

Miller  held  up  his  horribly  mutilated  hand,  with  tears  of 
grief. 

"  That  ar'  a  fact,  poor  feller,"  said  Dave,  in  tones  of  pity, 
"  and  as  long  as  you  havn't  killed  any  body,  we'll  let  you  off." 

He  next  proceeded  to  prepare  the  weapons,  and  then  held 
them  up,  saying  :  "  now,  old  sinner,  which  do  y'  choose  the 
right  hand  or  the  left  ?" 

"  I  will  select  the  one  in  your  left  hand,"  replied  his  antago 
nist. 


358        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  Then  I'll  measure  off  thirty  steps,  and  lay  the  tool  down, 
and  you  can  go  arter  it  when  I  come  back,  and  fire  when  y' 
like,"  observed  Tuttle.  "  That's  fair,  ain't  it  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  responded  the  regulator,  with  a  countenance  of 
malicious  pleasure. 

The  other  counted  off  the  requisite  number  of  paces,  and 
having  deposited  the  revolver,  walked  calmly  again  to  the  syca 
more. 

The  major,  with  a  murderous  smile  on  his  freckled  visage, 
started  hastily  towards  his  position  ;  but  Dave  interposed, 
"  wait  a  bit,  old  feller,  I  want  a  leetle  chat  with  y',  as  it's  the 
fust,  it  will  most  sartinly  be  the  last." 

"  Talk  away,  but  be  in  a  hurry,  if  you  please,"  said  Morrow, 
angrily. 

"  0,  y'  needn't  git  in  a  huff,  becaze  y'  can't  start  quick  as  a 
streak  of  lightnin',  though  it's  a  long  road  yu've  got  to  travel," 
remarked  Dave,  in  a  dry  tone. 

"  I  had  rather  fight  than  stand  here,  all  day,  gabbling  non 
sense,"  retorted  the  great  lyncher,  savagely. 

*'  Would'nt  y'  rather  choke  babies  to  death  in  Missouri  than 
do  either  ?"  asked  Tuttle,  with  an  awful  look. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  rascal  ?"  gasped  the  other,  turning 
white  as  a  sheet. 

"  I  mean,  that  you  murdered  your  wife's  fust  child,  becaze 
'twur  not  youru,  but  Lawyer  Ellsman's,  of  St.  Louis  ;  and  my 
brother  what  y'  buried  alive  seed  you  do  it  with  his  own  eyes, 
in  a  little  holler  near  the  Osage,  and  then  y'  cast  the  dead  crit 
ter  into  the  river  1" 


Tuttle's  object,  by  this  terrible  banter,  was  to  agitate  the  lyncher  so  much  as  to 
disturb  the  deadly  accuracy  of  his  aim ;  but  in  this  he  was,  at  least,  unsuccessful ;  for 
when  Morrow,  after  snatching  up  the  revolver,  turned  round,  although  his  visage 
retained  its  previous  death-like  pallor,  his  limbs  appeared  firm  and  steady  as  iron, 
while  he  levelled  his  pistol  at  the  bosotr  of  his  antagonist.— PAGE  859. 


MAJOR  MORROW    AND   DAVE   TUTTLE.  359 

"  It  is  false  1"  cried  the  major,  in  hoarse  accents,  quivering  in 
every  nerve  ;  "let  us  decide,  however,  all  differences  betwixt  us, 
by  the  pistol." 

"  Go  ahead,  old  baby-killer  1"  said  Dave  ;  "  but  mind  y'  don't 
see  a  ghost  before  the  sights  of  yer  weepun  I" 

Tuttle's  object,  by  this  terrible  banter,  was  to  agitate  the 
lyncher  so  much  as  to  disturb  the  deadly  accuracy  of  his  aim  ; 
but  in  this  he  was,  at  least,  unsuccessful  ;  for  when  Morrow, 
after  snatching  up  the  revolver,  turned  round,  although  his  vis 
age  retained  its  previous  dea-th-like  pallor,  his  limbs  appeared 
firm  and  steady  as  iron,  while  he  levelled  his  pistol  at  the  bosom 
of  his  antagonist. 

Indeed,  it  was  impossible  to  determine,  as  they  stood  with 
their  weapons  presented,  a  moment  before  firing,  which  was  the 
firmest,  or  most  fearless.  The  countenances  of  both  seemed 
truly  diabolical  in  their  fixed  frenzy  of  unutterable  hate  ;  but 
that  of  Dave  wore  an  awful  smile,  while  the  features  of  the  other 
revealed  a  satanic  grin,  lurid  and  appalling. 

Suddenly,  both  pistols  roared  together,  and  Tattle  reeled  at 
the  shock,  as  if  about  to  fall,  clapping  his  left  hand  to  his  right 
breast  apparently  in  an  agony  of  pain  ;  and  young  Moore 
thought  that  the  combat  had  ended  fatally  for  his  friend. 

"  Ha  !  exclaimed  the  regulator,  with  a  wild  laugh  of  mockery, 
and  rushed  with  the  fury  of  a  savage  towards  his  tottering  enemy. 

But  when  he  came  within  a  dozen  paces,  Dave  suddenly  ral 
lied,  raised  his  revolver,  quick  as  a  thought,  and  sent  a  bullet 
through  the  centre  of  Morrow's  forehead,  the  latter  falling  to 
the  earth,  like  lead. 


360       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"  Are  you  hurt  ?"  inquired  Alfred  Moore,  in  a  voice  of  the 
deepest  anxiety. 

"  No,  I  aint  even  scratched,"  replied  Tuttle,  laughing  ;  "  I 
only  played  possum,  to  fool  the  old  feller  ;  but  I  come  very  near 
cotching  it  j  fur  I  heerd  the  ball  whistle  mighty  close  to  my  jaw, 
I'll  swar." 

"  Mose  Miller  immediately  advanced  towards  Dave,  and  holding 
out  his  left  hand,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  said  in  grateful  tones  : 

"  Let  me  thank  you  for  sparing  my  life,  although  it  may 
hereafter  be  that  of  a  cripple  ;  and  forgive  my  conduct  at  your 
brother's  house,  I  was  urged  to  it  by  the  persuasion  of  others, 
some  of  them,  too,  ministers  of  the  gospel,  who  caused  me  to 
believe  that  Sol  was  a  commmon  thief." 

•"  I  pardon  y'  freely,"  answered  Tuttle,  with  the  moisture  of 
tender  pity  on  his  own  brown  cheeks  ;  "  and  now  I'm  sorry  fur 
mashin'  yer  hand  ;  but  go  home  with  me,  and  we'll  see  if  it  can't 
be  cured."  He  then  added,  "  we  must  let  Morrow's  people  know 
what  has  happen',  so  they  may  put  away  the  body  in  the 
ground  ;  becaze,  though  I  hated  him  orfully,  while  livin',  I  don't 
want  to  war  with  the  dead  !"  And  the  three  started  for  the 
block-house. 

It  will  be  remembered,  that  Alfred  Moore  and  Dave  Tuttle 
both  escaped  from  the  regulators  on  the  same  night.  As  soon 
as  the  lynchers  left  his  father's  residence,  the  former  returned, 
and  having  procured  his  rifle,  a  double-barrelled  shot-gun,  and  a 
couple  of  revolvers,  he  followed  on  after  the  lawless  party,  for  the 
purpose  of  revenge.  Wandering  in  the  woods  around  the  major's 
residence,  he  met,  by  accident  with  Dave,  who  being  a  former 


MAJOR   MORROW    AND   DAVE   TUTTLE.  361 

acquaintance,  they  agreed  to  prosecute  their  common  object 
together,  and  the  success  of  their  united  pursuit,  we  have  just 
witnessed. 

In  a  short  time  after  they  had  left  the  corpse  of  the  major, 
they  arrived  at  his  dwelling,  but  subsequently  to  the  departure 
of  the  rangers,  and  Sol  too  had  already  started  for  his  prairie 
home.  They  paused  in  the  yard,  and  Dave  Tuttle  remarked  in 
a  mournful  voice  : 

"  Mr.  Moore,  you  go  in,  and  tell  'em  what  has  happened  ; 
becaze,  fur  my  very  life,  I  can't." 

When  the  latter  entered  the  parlor,  he  trembled  with  pale  terror 
at  the  scene  which  met  his  glanee.  The  weeping  mother  still  lay 
on  the  blood-polluted  floor,  alternately  kissing  the  icy  lips  of  her 
two  inanimate  sons,  and  uttering  low  moans  of  immeasurable 
despair  and  grief,  while  her  daughters  stood  near,  weeping  almost 
as  wildly  for  their  brothers. 

The  young  man  hesitated  to  communicate  the  additional 
tidings  of  crushing  woe,  but  as  all  other  persons,  even  the  slaves 
had  gone,  he  had  no  alternative. 

"  Where  is  he  ?"  screamed  Joanna,  bounding  to  her  feet,  as 
if  she  had  been  hurled  up  by  the  recoil  of  a  broken  spring  in  her 
heart. 

"  Near  the  large  sycamore,  by  the  lake  at  the  council-ground," 
answered  Moore. 

"  I  must  go  to  him  1"  she  cried,  in  accents  sad  and  solemn, 
beyond  all  imagination,  and  rushing  from  the  door,  with  maniac 
lustre  in  her  dark  eyes,  she  flew  across  the  field  ! 


16 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

THE     JAIL. 

SINCE  the  first  settlement  of  North  America,  there  had  never 
been  an  organization  of  thieves  and  robbers,  at  once  so  powerful 
and  so  extensive,  as  that  which  existed  on  the  western  frontier  at 
the  date  of  the  foregoing  events.  They  had  a  regular  cordon  of 
private  posts,  running  along  the  line  of  civilized  life,  from  the 
prairies  of  Iowa  to  the  thorny  chapparal  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
while  travelling  agents,  as  missionaries  of  murder  and  robbery, 
kept  up  a  perpetual  communication  between  the  different  sections 
of  this  vast  dominion  of  coalesced  and  felonious  crime  ;  and 
district  meetings,  as  well  as  general  councils,  assembling  annually, 
bound  together  the  diabolical  brotherhood  in  a  close  and  com 
pact  union,  enabling  them  to  evade,  and  sometimes  to  defy,  all 
the  laws  of  civil  society.  They  had  their  secret  pass-words  and 
mystic  signs,  and  their  confidants  in  almost  every  neighborhood, 
and  thus,  for  the  most  part,  they  managed  to  escape  punish 
ment. 

Two  dissimilar  causes  contributed  to  produce  this  deplorable 
state  of  things.  In  the  first  place,  the  population  was  scattered 

863 


THE   JAIL.  363 

in  settlements,  with  wide  intervals  of  solitary  desert  betwixt 
them,  abounding  in  wild  game,  and  exactly  fitted  for  the  hiding- 
places  of  rogues  and  refugees.  There  were  no  jails,  except  inse 
cure  log-cabins,  and  as  the  courts  held  their  sessions  but  once  or 
twice  in  the  year,  prisoners  always  contrived  to  escape  either 
before  the  day  of  trial  or  that  of  execution,  if  indeed  they  did 
not  procure  an  acquittal  through  false  testimony  or  some  cunning 
quibble  of  the  law.  It  was  of  course  impossible  to  hire  a  guard, 
when  the  only  means  of  payment  must  be  in  county  scrip,  at  the 
current  value  of  ten  cents  on  the  hundred. 

But  a  second  and  still  stronger  reason  favored  the  robbers. 
The  half-civilized  tribes  of  Indians,  from  the  east  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  had  been  lately  removed  to  the  frontiers  of  Missouri  and 
Arkansas,  and  the  felon,  when  in  danger,  had  only  to  cross  the 
line,  and  find  a  safe  and  permanent  asylum  among  these  secret 
enemies  of  the  white  race. 

As  there  seemed  to  be  no  legal  or  moderate  remedy  for  such 
annoying  and  innumerable  wrongs,  the  people  everywhere,  and 
almost  simultaneously  arose  from  their  lethargy,  and  organizing 
themselves  into  companies  of  lynchers,  took  the  law  into  their 
own  hands.  And  hence,  terrible  scenes  ensued,  about  the  same 
time  in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Texas,  and  in  the  evils  of 
anarchy  rivalled,  or  perhaps  surpassed,  the  outrages  which  they 
had  been  intended  to  redress.  Every  ruthless  passion  was  let 
loose  upon  society.  The  revolver  displaced  both  judge  and 
sheriff,  and  the  bowie  knife  dethroned  Blackstone.  However, 
during  the  conflict,  the  prestige  and  power  of  the  rogues,  re 
ceived  a  death-blow,  and  never  again  assumed  a  menacing  position. 


864  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

The  day  after  their  capture,  Carlyle  and  his  friend  Currau, 
with  Dublin  Jack,  were  seated  ou  the  floor  in  the  jail  at  Shelby- 
ville,  indulging  in  those  gloomy  reflections,  and  terrible  fore 
bodings,  which  their  situation  could  not  fail  to  inspire.  They 
could  no  longer  entertain  the  least  hope,  even  to  preserve  life 
itself,  except  by  a  verdict  of  acquittal  at  the  hands  of  a  jury. 
Escape  from  their  prison  seemed  utterly  impossible  ;  for  heavy 
chains  had  been  fastened  to  their  wrists  as  well  as  ancles,  and  a 
strong  force  of  rangers  had  been  detailed  to  stand  guard  around 
the  log-cabin  where  they  were  confined. 

The  appearance  of  each  captive,  in  the  meantime  had  under 
gone  a  remarkable,  almost  magical,  change.  The  countenance 
of  the  Captain  was  rigid,  stern,  terrible,  unrelenting,  as  the 
fabulous  iron  destiny,  in  which  he  so  firmly  believed  as  the  only 
controlling  force  in  the  universe.  His  thin  lips  were  immovable 
as  a  mouth  of  marble,  and  his  dark  eyes  flashed  their  defiance  on 
the  very  walls  of  his  dungeon.  The  amazing  power  of  his  will 
in  such  circumstances  of  immeasurable  despair  realized  the  sub 
lime  of  physical  desperation. 

The  lieutenant,  on  the  contrary,  looked  indescribably  sad  and 
solemn.  His  lips  quivered  nervously,  and  from  his  blue  eyes 
rolled  occasionally  large  silver  tears,  in  single  drops,  like  the 
first  of  a  thunder  shower  ;  while  his  handsome  features  had  lost 
every  tinge  of  their  usual  rosy  color.  But  yet  his  visage  did 
not  betray  any  token  of  craven  fear.  The  emotion  revealed 
there,  seemed  rather  unutterable  sorrow  for  the  past — perchance 
repentance. 

The  coarse,  brutal  face  of  the  giant,  Dublin  Jack,  presented  a 


THE   JAIL.  365 

totally  different  indication  of  natural  feeling.  He  scowled  con 
tinually,  like  a  demon,  at  the  fetters  on  his  hands  and  feet,  and 
rattled  their  iron  links  incessantly,  by  the  restlessness  of  his 
motions.  Now  and  then,  he  yelled  horrible  curses  and  bitter 
blasphemies,  such  as  a  lost  spirit  might  be  imagined  to  utter  on 
its  arrival  in  the  prison-house  of  purgatorial  tortures.  He 
resembled  a  tiger  lately  caught,  and  could  scarcely  credit  his 
own  senses  to  find  himself  within  the  'bars  and  bolts  of  the 
gloomy  cage. 

At  length  Curran  spoke  in  a  kind,  but  very  mournful  voice. 
11  Dear  cousin,  this  is  indeed  a  fearful  fate,  compared  with  the 
glorious  hopes  and  morning  visions  that  glittered  from  afar  oil 
the  horizon  of  our  innocent  youth.'7 

"  Well,  I  care  not,"  replied  the  other,  in  severe  but  tranquil 
tones.  "  We  have  enjoyed  our  summer  of  sunshine,  and  must 
now  confront,  without  shrinking,  the  fury  of  the  winter's  storm. 
Everything  in  nature  has  its  day  of  doom,  how  then  can  man 
expect  to  be  alone  free*from  the  common  lot  ?  The  fairest 
flowers  must  fade.  The  tallest  pine-tree  withers  before  the 
thunderbolt,  as  the  mountain-top  on  which  it  towers  crumbles 
to  atoms  at  the  shock  of  the  earthquake.  The  very  stars  die 
out  in  the  sky  ;  and,  perhaps,  at  last,  as  the  old  myths  seem  to 
indicate,  all  the  rolling  worlds  will  return  to  the  primitive  chaos, 
whence  they  so  vainly  emerged.  All  things,  empires,  cities, 
philosophies,  religions,  races,  perish  at  the  pre-appointed  hour  ; 
for  what  force  or  cunning  can  fight  with  eternal  fatality  ?  what 
menaces  or  idle  prayers  can  move  the  viewless  monster  from  his 


366       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

remorseless  purpose,   pitiless   as   these   metallic   links   on   my 
fettered  hands  ?" 

"  I  did  not  allude  to  the  pangs  of  death,"  said  his  companion, 
with  pallid  lips,  "  but  to  the  disgrace  of  such  a  final  exit  from 
the  light  of  life,  as  we  must  make." 

"  Disgrace  !"  exclaimed  Carlyle,  with  a  contemptuous  sneer  ; 
what  is  it  ?  To  merely  have  your  uame — an  empty  sound — dis 
cussed  by  the  breath  of  fools.  When  the  final  agony  is  over,  it 
matters  not  what  men  say,  for  you  shall  never  more  hear  it  !" 

"  But  the  soul — the  immortal  intelligence,  that  thinks  in  the 
scheming  brain,  acts  in  the  working  hand,  feels  in  the  fiery 
heart,  may  it  not  still  bear,  through  other  spheres  of  being,  the 
bitter  memory  of  its  deeds  done  in  the  faded  flesh  ?" 

"  I  tell  you  that  there  can  be  nothing  in  the  universe  but  life, 
death,  and  destiny,"  retorted  the  captain,  in  the  sternest 
accents ;  "for  where  all  is  fatality,  there  can  be  no  room  for 
the  reign  of  a  God  I" 

"  0  !  idle  dreamer  of  futile  fallacies,"  answered  Curran, 
mournfully,  "  can  you  not  perceive  that  your  argument  is  a  ter 
rible  non  sequitur,  and  that  your  own  premises  warrant  an 
opposite  conclusion  ?  Because,  for  ought  you  can  know,  or 
even  imagine,  to  the  contrary,  the  very  fate  which  you  affirm, 
may  have  enthroned  a  Deity,  and  predestined  a  future  state  of 
rewards  and  punishment.  Before  you  can  be  qualified  to  pro 
nounce  a  negative  on  the  subject  of  such  mighty  mysteries,  you 
must  possess  facts  gathered  from  the  experience  of  more  worlds 
than  one — you  must  pierce  the  starry  deep  of  endless  space,  and 


THE   JAIL.  367 

scale  the  blazing  battlements  of  the  highest  heaven,  before  you 
will  be  competent  to  assert  the  non-existence  of  a  spirit-land  1" 

"  Aye,  it  may  be  so,"  muttered  the  skeptic,  with  an  awful 
frown  ;  then  raising  his  angry  eyes  and  chained  hands  towards 
the  roof  of  his  prison,  he  thundered,  in  appalling  tones,  "  never 
theless,  eternal  destiny,  hear  me  !  Thy  slave,  though  crushed 
to  the  earth — fated — fallen — hopeless — defies  thee  here,  here 
after,  and  for  evermore  I" 

At  the  moment,  the  door  opened,  and  the  brown,  withered 
visage  of  attorney  Rider  entered,  with  a  profusion  of  obsequious 
bows  and  friendly  smiles. 

"  What  do  you  want  here,  old  gabbler  ?"  exclaimed  the  cap 
tain,  in  accents  of  violent  indignation. 

"  Your  examination  before  the  magistrate  will  commence  in  a 
ishort  time,"  said  the  lawyer,  pecking  the  air  with  his  beak-like 
nose,  as  if  to  find  a  fee,  "  and  I  thought,  perhaps,  you  would 
wish  to  confer  with  your  counsel." 

"  With  my  counsel  1"  echoed  the  robber,  in  amazement, 
"  who  is  my  counsel  ?" 

"  Who  else  should  it  be  but  myself,  your  humble  -servant,  the 
only  attorney  in  the  place?"  answered  Rider,  in  a  pompous 
manner. 

"  Ah  !  you  seek  a  retainer,  you  think  that  in  such  a  desperate 
case  the  victim  will  bleed  freely,"  sneered  Carlyle,  mimicking  the 
other's  air,  and  ludicrous  obeisance. 

"  You  do  me  much  injustice,"  responded  Rider,  as  if  wounded 
grievously  by  the  captain's  words,  "  I  have  already  received  my 
fee,  and  a  most  liberal  one  it  was  too  ;  I  must  say  that." 


368  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OP  THE   TAN  AHA. 

"  Who  the  devil  employed  you  ?"  asked  Carlyle,  in  utter 
astonishment. 

"  Your  beautiful  and  accomplished  sister,"  replied  the  lawyer, 
with  a  sly  wink,  "  and  any  man  may  well  be  proud  of  such  a 
loving  and  devoted  relative." 

"  My  sister  1"  repeated  the  bandit,  almost  stupified  by  the 
information. 

"  Yes,  your  sister  Lucy,"  said  the  other,  very  surprised  at  his 
agitation  ;  "did  you  imagine  that  she  was  dead  ?" 

"No,  but  I  thought  that  she  had  betrayed  me,"  murmured 
Carlyle,  in  saddened  tones,  almost  doubting  the  evidence  of  his 
own  ears. 

"  What  madness  induced  you  to  believe  such  a  falsehood  ?" 
inquired  the  attorney,  warmly.  "  I  have  seen  many  spectacles 
of  sorrow  in  such  cases,  during  my  long  practice  in  the  defence 
of  criminals,  but  I  never  witnessed  before  such  grief  as  hers. 
She  paid  me  a  thousand  dollars  down  for  my  services,  and  pro 
mised  as  much  more  if  I  succeed  in  attaining  your  acquittal,  as 
I  shall  certainly  do." 

"Eternal  destiny!  how  I  have  wronged  her  !"  cried  the 
robber,  trembling  with  marvellous  emotion,  and  before  the  new 
gleam  of  hope,  which  revealed  a  chance  for  escape  from  his 
doom.  He  had  steeled  his  heart  against  fear,  and  gathered  firm 
ness  from  the  very  blackest  reflections  of  his  own  despair.  He 
steadied  his  soul  to  dare  and  endure  the  worst,  and  he  could 
have  undergone  the  keenest  pangs,  the  most  infernal  tortures 
ever  invented,  without  a  groan  or  tear  of  anguish  ;  but  this 
sudden  smile,  this  bright  glimpse  of  a  more  propitious  fortune, 


THE   JAIL.  369 

unnerved  him  quite,  and  he  stooped  his  forehead  upon  his 
chained  hands,  and  wept  like  a  child. 

At  last,  he  recovered  his  composure,  and  asked  in  a  mournful 
tone  ;  "why  does  not  Lucy  come  and  see  me  ?" 

"Oh,"  answered  Rider  promptly,  "the  doctor  will  not  per 
mit  her  to  leave  the  sick  room  ;  she  screamed  and  carried  on  so 
when  she  found  that  you  were  taken,  as  to  rupture  a  blood 
vessel  and  nearly  endanger  her  life." 

"Dearest  Lucy,  what  an  atonement  I  will  offer  you,  for  my 
past  injuries,  if  I  shall  ever  again  have  the  opportunity  !"  sighed 
the  bandit,  at  the  moment  all  his  old  affection  rushing  back  in  a 
tender  stream  to  his  heart. 

"And  now,"  said  the  lawyer,  "since  we  understand  each 
other,  let  me  proceed  to  advise  you.  Be  sure  that  you  deny 
every  accusation  which  they  may  bring  against  you." 

"  But  what  are  the  particular  charges  ?"  interrogated  Carlyle. 

"  The  murder  of  a  Parson  Cole  and  Bob  Bennet." 

"Who  are  the  witnesses  ?"  gasped  the  assassin,  awfully  pale. 

"  They  have  only  one — Comanche  Ben." 

*'  Ha  !  he  is  the  traitor  ! "  cried  the  Captain  with  a  stony 
stare  ;  "  then  indeed,  I  am  lost !  " 

"  Not  at  all,  my  good  sir,"  said  the  attorney  ;  "for  your  sister 
will  swear  to  your  innocence,  and  prove  the  Comanche  himself 
to  be  guilty  of  the  deed."  , 

"  Oh  !  Lucy,  what  a  treasure  you  are  in  the  hour  of  adver 
sity  !  I  never  knew  your  worth  until  now  1"  exclaimed  the 
bandit,  in  accents  of  passionate  earnestness. 

Those  who  affirm,  that  the  light  of  love,  when  once  faded  can 


3 'TO       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

never  be  relumed,  have  never  passed  through  the  deepest  mys 
teries  of  that  wild  emotion,  as  lawless  as  the  lightning,  as  way 
ward  as  the  wind  of  winter — that  type  of  fickleness  and  change. 
Often  when  the  heart  that  formerly  burned  with  the  heat  of  a 
furnace,  has  grown  cold  and  careless  to  the  divine  voice  whose 
lightest  tone  could  once  fill  it  with  a  frenzy  of  joy,  and  to  the 
beautiful  lips,  one  touch  of  which  made  the  very  blood  boil  in  all 
the  veins;  and  even  after  long  years  of  absence,  some  unexpected, 
and  perchance  trivial  event — a  few  lines  of  an  old  letter — a  lock 
of  hair — the  sight  of  a  picture — the  recovery  of  a  forgotten 
ring — the  presence  of  danger — the  approach  of  death — or  it  may 
be,  the  vivid,  life-like  imagery  of  a  dream — will  revive  the  faded 
fondness,  in  all  the  fiery  ardor  of  its  glowing  prime.  And  after 
the  resurrection  of  such  a  love,  though  dead  and  buried  in  the 
bosom,  its  might  and  magic  are  even  greater  than  in  the  most 
powerful  spell  of  its  first  existence. 

The  investigation  before  the  magistrate,  was  held  the  same 
day  after  the  lawyer's  visit  to  the  prisoners.  Comanche  Ben 
appeared  as  the  only  witness,  and  testified  positively  that  Captain 
Carlyle  had  murdered  the  two  persons,  as  charged,  and  that 
Dublin  Jack,  with  a  number  of  others,  had  assisted  to  bury  them. 

Attorney  Rider  urged  a  most  determined  opposition  against 
the  committal  of  his  client,  and  furiously  assailed  both  the  com- 
petenty  and  credibility  of  the  Indian.  But  as  the  corpses  of  the 
victims  had  been  found,  in  confirmation  of  the  Comanche's  story, 
and  the  excitement  of  public  opinion  was  entirely  unfavorable  to 
the  accused,  they  seemed  to  have  little  chance  with  so  ignorant 
and  prejudiced  a  court. 


THE   JAIL.  371 

The  chief  robber  listened  with  a  calm,  disdainful  air  to  the 
evidence,  and  at  its  termination,  before  the  final  decision  of  the 
magistrate,  he  interposed,  "  May  it  please  your  honor,  is  there 
any  proof  to  implicate  Mr.  Curran  in  the  affair  V1 

"Not  as  yet,"  replied  the  justice.  "Witness,  did  the  lieutenant 
here,  aid  in  either  the  homicide  or  the  burial  of  the  body  ?" 

"  Not  as  I  know  of,"  answered  the  Indian. 

"  Then  I  must  discharge  him,'-'  remarked  the  court,  in  accents 
which  showed  such  a  duty  to  be  quite  painful. 

"I  object  to  that,"  said  Curran  rising;  "unless  you  also 
liberate  Mr.  Carlyle  ;  for  if  he  be  guilty,  so  am  I  too." 

"Do  you  then,  confess  the  crime?"  inquired  the  magistrate 
eagerly. 

"  No  sir,"  responded  Curran,  with  a  look  of  extreme  severity  ; 
"  I  will  repeat  my  declaration,  that  if  the  captain  be  guilty  so 
am  I ;  and  if  you  send  him  again  to  jail,  I  wish  my  name  to  be 
included  in  the  same  mittimus." 

"Well,  I  will  be  happy  to  accommodate  you,"  said  the  court, 
with  a  malicious  smile,  and  seizing  his  pen,  he  wrote  the  order 
remanding  all  the*  three  to  prison. 

As  soon  as  they  went  back  to  the  dungeon,  Carlyle  asked 
with  almost  angry  surprise ;  "  In  the  name  of  common  sense, 
Curran,  what  folly  caused  you  to  make  such  a  qualified  acknow 
ledgment,  and  furnish  that  spiteful  magistrate  a  pretext  for  put 
ting  you  once  more  in  chains?" 

"  Dear  cousin,"  replied  the  lieutenant  sadly  :  "  did  you  have 
such  a  faint  idea  of  my  friendship  as  to  imagine  that  I  would 
leave  von  alone  to  face  death,  if  it  must  come  to  that  bitter  end  ?" 


372        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

"Yes,  but  you  are  innocent  of  the  charge,"  suggested  the 
Captain. 

"  Then  I  will  not  be  the  first  innocent  man,  that  ever  suffered 
unjustly,"  answered  the  other. 

"  Oh  1  what  a  blunder,  you  have  perpetrated,"  exclaimed  the 
chief,  frowning  ;  "if  you  had  gone  free,  it  would  have  enabled 
me  to  escape  also." 

"  How  ?"  asked  Curran,  in  surprise. 

"  You  might  have  become  a  witness  in  my  favor." 

"  Cousin,"  responded  the  lieutenant,  in  accents  of  extraordi 
nary  firmness  and  solemnity  ;  "  you  have  a  thousand  unques 
tionable  proofs  of  my  devotion  to  your  welfare,  and  of  the  fatal 
fascination  which  your  power  has  held  over  me.  I  will  even 
contrive  to  hang  by  your  side  if  you  shall  be  executed  ;  I  would 
die  to  save  your  life  at  any  hour.  But  there  is  one  thing  that  I 
will  never  perform  for  you  again — I  will  never  more  do  a  volun 
tary  wrong  ;  and  I  would  not  swear  a  falsehood,  to  rescue  a 
hundred  such  necks  as  yours  and  mine  from  the  halter  !" 

"  Why  !  you  have  all  at  once  grown  wonderfully  virtuous," 
retorted  the  captain  sarcastically. 

"  I  deem  it  time  for  the  reformation  of  us  both,"  said  Curran, 
in  tones  of  unutterable  sadness  ;  "  now  that  we  hover  on  the 
breaking  brink  of  the  dark  river,  whose  swift  waves  will  waft 
us  to  some  far  off  shore,  we  know  not  whither,  or  to  what  an 
awful  doom  !" 

"But  the  lawyer  affirms  that  we  will  be  cleared  without 
difficulty,"  urged  Carlyle,  in  agitated  accents,  shocked  in  spite  of 
himself  by  the  other's  melancholy  voice  and  manner. 


THE   JAIL.  313 

"  I  am  certain  we  stand  on  the  verge  of  eternity,"  answered 
the  lieutenant,  with  death-like  features.  "  My  angel  mother 
came  to  me  last  night  in  the  pale  starlight,  before  the  battle,  and 
warned  me  of  my  approaching  fate.  It  was  her  second  visit 
since  she  has  been  an  inhabitant  of  the  heavens  ;  and  the  first 
was  the  evening  before  our  flight  from  New  Orleans  I" 

"  Opcical  illusions  1"  muttered  the  sceptical  robber,  with  an 
unquiet  countenance. 

"  It  seemed  evident  to  my  senses  as  any  form  of  either  sun 
shine  or  shadow,"  said  the  other  with  a  sigh. 

"  I  cannot  believe  it,"  returned  the  chief,  shuddering  in  all  his 
muscles  ;  "  it  would  be  too  dreadful  for  me  to  die  now,  when  I 
know  what  agony  it  would  inflict  on  the  heart  of  her  who  loves 
me,  with  such  unfading  fondness." 

And  thus  by  the  inevitable  operation  of  an  ordinary  psycho 
logical  law,  with  the  bandit's  old  affection  had  revived  his 
desire  for  life,  and  his  horror  at  the  idea  of  that  most  lonely 
solitude,  that  deepest  darkness — the  sunless  night  of  the  grave. 
Previously  he  had  been  unwavering  as  an  iron  mountain,  that 
thunder  itself  might  not  shake.  But  now  the  wind  of  a 
zephyr  could  move  him  like  the  lightest  leaf  of  the  woods. 
Before,  he  was  prompt  to  perish,  he  cared  not  how  or  when  ; 
now,  he  would  have  gladly  bartered  the  wealth  of  worlds  for  one 
brief  month  of  mortal  being.  He  had  stood  firm  as  a  giant  in 
the  wild  sands  of  despair,  with  the  stormy  billows  up  to  bis 
neck  ;  in  the  green  field  of  flowery  hope,  he  was  weaker  than  an 
infant. 

Every  day  Attorney  Rider  came  to  the  jail  with  tender  mes- 


374       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

sages  from  Lucy,  and  assurances  of  a  final  acquittal.  At  length 
he  announced  that  she  had  so  far  recovered,  as  to  be  able  to 
pay  a  visit  of  her  own  on  the  subsequent  morning.  It  may 
well  be  imagined  that  in  the  present  excited  state  of  his  feelings, 
the  robber  did  not  close  his  eyes  during  that  night.  Through 
out  all  the  darkness,  the  guard  of  rangers  could  hear  the  inces 
sant  clanking  of  his  chains,  and  his  muttered  apostrophes  to  the 
woman  that  he  now  loved  with  a  wilder  passion  than  ever. 

A  little  after  sunrise  she  made  her  entrance,  apparently  quite 
pale  and  feeble  ;  and  immediately  threw  herself  upon  Carlyle's 
neck,  weeping  and  sobbing,  as  if  her  heart  would  break  with 
a  mingled  tempest  of  grief  and  fondness.  Had  her  own  frantic 
affection  indeed  regained  the  mastery  of  the  woman's  mind  ? 
Let  us<wait  and  witness. 

"  Oh  ever  dearest,  and  now  only  dear,  forgive  me  !"  cried 
the  bandit,  mixing  his  tears  with  hers. 

"There  is  truly  nothing  to  forgive,"  she  murmured  in 
whispered  music  ;  "  my  heart,  my  love,  my  life — all  are  yours  ! 
but  speak  not  of  that  ;  I  have  come  to  tell  you  glorious 


news.' 


"  What  is  it  ?"  he  gasped,  as  if  fainting  from  anxiety. 

"  I  have  bribed  the  sheriff,  and  he*re  is  a  list  of  your  jury," 
she  said,  handing  him  a  small  roll  of  paper. 

He  snatched  it  hastily  from  her  fingers,  and  devoured  the 
names  with  a  smile  of  triumphant  joy.  "  Good  !"  he  exclaimed, 
"  they  cannot  hang  me,  at  least  the  first  trial  ;  for  half  these 
men  are  my  friends." 

"The  officer  could  do  no  better,"  she  replied  ;  "because  all 


THE   JAIL.  375 

the  rest  of  your  band  has  fled,  and  these  are  not  even  suspected  ; 
but  it  cost  me  ail  my  jewels  to  pay  for  so  much  favor." 

"  Never  mind,  Lucy,  you  shall  be  rich  as  a  queen  yet,"  consoled 
the  captain  with  beaming  looks. 

"  I  could  buy  up  the  remainder  of  the  panel,  if  I  only  had 
the  means  ;  I  have  felt  them  on  the  subject,"  she  remarked  in  a 
mournful  voice. 

"  What  do  you  say  ?"  asked  Carlyle,  wildly  ratling  his  chain, 
as  if  he  doubted  the  evidence  of  his  own  senses. 

She  repeated  the  assurance.  "  Oh  !"  he  whispered,  "  if  that 
be  all  which  is  necessary,  I  can  tell  you  where  to  find  wealth 
sufficient  to  ransom  a  royal  head  !"  And  he  gave  her  directions 
how  to  discover  his  hidden  treasures,  the  spoils  of  a  hundred 
robberies  and  murders. 

11  The  jurors  only  require  a  thousand  dollars  to  each,"  she 
affirmed." 

*'  Well,  be  sure  that  you  do  not  give  them  more  than  half, 

until  after  the  trial,"  he  urged  by  way  of  caution. 

• 
"  Trust  me,  they  shall  not  have  a  chance  to  betray  us,"  she 

answered  confidently. 

"  And  now,"  he  insisted,  "  hurry  away,  and  finish  the  good 
work  which  you  have  so  auspiciously  commenced." 

They  then  separated  with  many  ardent  tears,  and  mutual 
protestations  of  eternally  fond  fidelity.  A  brief  space,  after 
Lucy  had  gone,  Attorney  Rider  was  admitted. 

"  And  so  she  told  you  the  fine  tidings,"  said  the  lawyer, 
chuckling  j  "  I  see  it  in  your  eyes.  Well,  she  can  beat  me  all 


376  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF  THE   TANAHA. 

hollow  at  the  game  of  bribery,  though  some  envious  pettifog 
gers  accuse  me  of  being  a  cunning  hand  myself." 

"  Counsellor,  I  want  you  to  draw  up  a  legal  instrument  for 
me,"  observed  Carlyle,  eagerly. 

"  What  is  it  !"  asked  Rider,  pecking  the  air  with  his  beak,  for 
a  fee. 

"  A  deed  of  gift,  bestowing  on  Lucy  all  my  property,  money, 
slaves,  land,  everything,  so  that  in  case  of  accident,  she  will  not 
be  penniless." 

"  An  excellent  idea,"  replied  the  attorney,  with  a  countenance 
of  unqualified  approval  ;  "  I  will  go  to  my  office,  and  write  it 
instantly." 

"  Make  it  out  to  Lucy,  the  widow  of  Juan  Gordo,  of  New 
Orleans,"  directed  the  robber. 

"  Aye,  I  thought  so,"  remarked  Rider,  with  a  merry  wink. 

An  hour  subsequently,  the  counsellor  returned  with  duplicate 
deeds  of  gift,  which  Carlyle  signed,  and  had  witnessed  in  due 
form,  and  which  his  attorney  hastened  off  to  have  recorded. 

On  the  Monday  "of  the  following  week,  the  prisoners  were 
placed  at  the  bar  for  final  trial,  and  never  did  the  countenances 
of  supposed  confederates  in  murder,  appear  more  remarkably 
contrasted.  Carlyle,  at  first  looked  smiling,  confident,  un 
daunted  ;  Curran  was  pale,  resigned,  penitent  ;  while  Dublin 
Jack  scowled  at  judge  and  jurors  with  the  aspect  of  a  despairing 
fiend. 

An  immense,  noisy  multitude,  almost  amounting  to  a  mob, 
collected  in  and  around  the  court-house,  thirsty  as  wolves  for 


THE   JAIL.  317 

human  blood,  and  only  restrained  from  tearing  the  captives  in 
pieces,  from  fear  of  the  rangers,  composing  the  guard. 

"  Where  is  Lucy  ?"  asked  the  chief  robber,  in  a  most  anxious 
whisper,  as  the  case  opened  without  her  attendance. 

"  She  will  come  with  my  wife,  when  wanted,"  answered 
Rider  ;  "  it  would  be  unpleasant  to  expose  her  to  the  gaze  of 
such  brutal  spectators  longer  than  necessary." 

The  same  proofs  were  detailed  as  had  been  presented  before 
the  committing  magistrate,  and  the  prosecution  closed  the  evi 
dence  for  the  Republic. 

"  May  it  please  your  honor  to  indulge  me  a  moment,  while  I 
go  after  a  witness  for  the  defence,"  said  Rider,  bowing.  The 
judge  signified  his  assent,  and  the  attorney  departed  on  his  mis 
sion.  He  remained  absent,  however,  so  great  a  while  that  the 
court  became  restless,  and  showed  a  strong  disposition  to 
proceed  without  him. 

All  at  once  he  rushed  in  with  a  wild  look,  exclaiming  : 

"  Our  witness  has  been  taken  suddenly  and  dangerously  ill  1" 
At  which  announcement,  there  was  a  general  laugh. 

The  case  then  went  on,  and  was  soon  submitted  to  the  panel, 
who  retired  to  deliberate  upon  their  verdict.  But  they  could 
hardly,  at  that  hour,  be  considered  as  free  agents  ;  for  the  mob 
gathered  around  their  room,  clamoring  loudly  for  the  blood  of 
their  victims,  and  uttering  frightful  menaces,  provided  that 
they  should  be  cheated  out  of  their  expected  prey. 

At  last  the  jury  returned  to  the  hall  of  justice,  and  the  pris 
oners,  with  pallid  features  gazed  into  their  eyes  as  they 


378       RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

entered,  to  read  if  possible  their  fate  before  it  should  be 
uttered. 

The  foreman  handed  in  the  verdict  of  the  doomed  men,  con 
taining  that  awful  word,  which  has  frozen  the  very  marrow  in  so 
many  brave  bones,  and  sent  unknown  thousands  of  haughty 
necks  to  the  halter — "  Guilty  !"  The  sound  of  itself  is  enough 
to  make  the  strongest  knees  quiver. 

Dublin  Jack  gave  a  wild  yell,  like  the  war-whoop  of  a  savage  ; 
Curran  burst  into  bitter  tears  ;  and  Carlyle  staggered  as  if  he 
had  been  shot  in  the  heart  ! 

The  court  immediately  pronounced  the  appalling  sentence, 
that  they  should  be  hung  a  week  from  the  following  Friday. 

The  next  morning  Lucy  dressed  herself  out  as  a  bride,  and 
sparkling  in  all  her  gold  and  jewels,  with  eyes  flashing  unuttera 
ble  joy  and  revenge,  entered  the  prison-house  where  all  was 
horror  and  despair.  She  paused  in  the  door,  and  said  with  a 
merry  ringing  laugh  : 

"  How  are  you  to-day,  dearest  ?" 

"  Away  !  hag  of  unfathomable  hell  !"  roared  Carlyle,  leaping 
the  length  of  his  chain,  and  falling  heavily  on  the  floor. 

"  What !  does  it  want  to  bite  I"  exclaimed  the  cruel  woman, 
with  her  music-murmuring  laugh  ;  "  poor  thing  !  it  has  tumbled 
down  and  hurt  itself  !  Come  here,  darling,  and  let  Lucy  kiss 
the  place,  and  make  it  well  1" 

"  Will  nobody  take  that  queen  of  all  the  devils  away  ?"  shout 
ed  the  robber,  with  the  bloody  foam  flying  from  his  lurid  lips,  as 
he  still  struggled  in  vain  with  his  fetters  to  reach  her. 


THE   JAIL.  379 

"  I  will  go  myself,"  she  answered,  with  wilder  glee  ;  "  if  you 
will  honor  me  with  another  deed  of  gift !" 

"  Oh  !  if  there  be  a  God,  he  will  burn  you  for  this,  to  all 
eternity,"  yelled  the  wretch,  biting  his  own  blasphemous 
tongue  in  a  tremendous  agony  of  impotent  rage  1 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE   LAST. 

"  GOOD-BYE,  sweet  creature,"  Lucy  said  or  rather  sung,  for 
every  tone  of  her  voice  was  the  richest  music,  and  she  turned 
*as  if  to  leave  the  jail.  But  she  came  immediately  back,  saying, 
"  my  dear,  I  forgot  something.  As  you  are  about  to  start  on 
your  travels,  I  wish  to  send  a  message  to  Juan  Gordo.  Give 
his  ghost  my  compliments,  if  you  should  happen  to  meet  him  in 
Fire-island,  which  is  doubtless  your  port  of  destination  !" 

The  miserable  man  only  answered  with  a  groan  of  despair. 

"  Have  you  forgotten  all  that  I  have  done  for  your  interests  ?" 
she  asked  in  mocking  accents. 

"  Avaunt  !  she-fiend  1"  he  yelled,  with  the  roar  of  a  wild 
beast. 

"  I  employed  Comanche  Ben  to  exchange  your  letter  to  Gen 
eral  Houston  for  one  of  my  own,  representing  your  real  char 
acter  and  conduct  1" 

"  Eternal  destiny  V  moaned  the  robber. 

"  I  sent  the  Indian  with  a  note  to  your  Mary  and  her  lover, 
warning  them  of  your  designs  against  his  life,  by  which  means 
he  effected  his  escape,"  she  continued. 


THE    LAST.  381 

He  uttered  a  cry,  terrible  as  the  howl  of  a  mad  wolf. 

"  I  induced  the  Comanche  to  act  as  guide  for  the  rangers, 
and  lead  them  to  your  camp." 

Again,  that  howl  of  rage  rent  the  air. 

"And  I  lodged  the  information  against  you,  for  the  murder 
of  Parson  Cole  and  Bob  Bennet,"  she  added,  laughing  with 
more  diabolical  merriment  than  ever. 

"  Oh,  how  I  will  tear  and  torture  you,  when  we  two  meet  in 
hell  !"  he  shouted,  smiting  his  forehead  with  his  chained  hands. 

"And  for  all  this  delicious  revenge  I  have  sold  my  body  to 
the  Indian;  but  I  have  not  yet  paid  him — ha!  ha  1  ha  !  what  a 
glorious  rival  you  have  ! "  she  exclaimed  with  wilder  peals  of 
appalling  mirth. 

And  this  time  Carlyle  himself  laughed  like  a  maniac. 

"  Farewell,  for  the  last  parting,"  she  said  in  withering  tones 
of  irony  "  and  be  sure  that  you  do  not  forget  my  compliments 
to  Juan  Gordo  I  " 

She  turned,  and  met  the  awful  eyes  of  Comanche  Ben  gazing, 
with  a  look  of  suspicion,  upon  her  countenance,  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  door.  He  walked  off  in  silence  by  her  side.  When  they 
had  advanced  some  hundred  yards,  the  Indian  attempted  to  take 
her  hand,  but  she  repulsed  him  with  an  icy  shudder,  observing  ; 
"  you  must  remember,  Ben,  that  our  compact  will  not  be  perfect 
until  the  Captain  shall  be  hung." 

"But  suppose  that  he  should  commit  suicide,  what  then?" 
asked  the  savage,  whose  doubts  of  her  fidelity  increased,  as  he 
noticed  the  horror  with  which  she  shrunk  from  the  contact  of 
his  fingers. 


882  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AH  A. 

"  Why,  then  I  will  not  wed  you,  that  is  all,"  she  replied  with 
a  look  of  disdain  and  hatred. 

"  How  can  I  prevent  the  act  ?  "  inquired  the  Comanche,  now 
certain  of  her  falsehood,  and  trembling  with  terrible  thoughts. 

"  Watch  the  jail,  and  see  that  none  of  Carlyle's  friends  give 
him  any  sort  of  weapon  to  do  the  deed,"  she  urged  with  her 
usual  art. 

''  And  will  you  then  surely  marry  me  ? "  interrogated  the 
monster,  piercing  her  very  soul  with  those  horrible  Indian  eyes. 

"  Yes,"  she  gasped,  growing  pale  beneath  his  glance. 

11 1  will  do  it,"  he  muttered  seizing  her  hand,  and  dealing  it  a 
kiss  that  almost  amounted  to  a  burning  bite.  He  then  went 
back  to  guard  the  prison. 

The  moment  when  Lucy  departed,  Carlyle  called  one  of  his 
jailers,  and  offered  eagerly  ;  "  induce  Comanche  Ben,  to  come 
and  see  me,  and  I  will  give  you  five  hundred  dollars." 

The  man  assented,  and  half  an  hour  afterwards  the  Indian 
was  brought  in. 

"  Well,  Ben,"  said  his  former  chief,  in  accents  of  friendly  com 
miseration  ;  "  a  woman  has  fooled  you  and  me  both." 

The  savage  gazed  at  him  with  a  bewildered  look,  unable  to 
articulate  a  single  sentence. 

11  And  so  she  promised  to  marry  you  !"  exclaimed  the  Cap 
tain,  laughing  loud  and  long  ;  "  why  she  has  made  you  a 
greater  dupe  than  even  myself !  She  has  managed  to  get  all  my 
wealth,  and  now  she  will  be  off  to  Europe,  and  soon  have  a 
nobleman  for  her  husband — not  you,  Ben  ;  you  were  a  goose  to 
dream  of  such  a  thing  I  n 


THE  LAST. 

"  Then  I  will  have  her  heart's  blood  I"  cried  the  Indian  in 
frightful  tones. 

"  Do  not  fly  into  a  passion,  and  commit  any  rash  act,"  urged 
Carlyle  ;  "  go,  and  request  her  to  wed  you  outright  ;  if  she 
intends  to  keep  her  word,  she  can  do  it  one  time  as  well  as 
another  ;  and  if  she  refuses,  you  will  then  be  satisfied,  and  come 
back  to  me.  I  will  then  tell  you  how  to  avenge  us  both." 

"  I'll  hew  her  in  small  pieces  !  I'll  roast  her  heart,  and  rend 
it  with  my  teeth  !"  yelled  the  Comanche  with  glaring  eyes. 

"You  must  be  careful  what  you  say,  or  do,"  cautioned  the 
chief  ;  "for  she  has  now  money  to  buy  friends  ;  and  if  you  fail 
to  follow  my  acjvice,  she  will  outwit  and  escape  us  yet." 

The  Indian  acquiesced  in  this  prudent  view  of  the  case,  and 
took  his  leave  to  seek  another  interview  with  the  cunning 
woman  ;  but  when  he  arrived  at  her  boarding-house,  they 
informed  him  that  she  had  already  gone  away,  none  knew 
whither,  in  company  with  a  son  of  old  Jack  Miles,  the  brother 
of  Mary's  father.  The  Comanche  sprung  instantly  upon  his 
horse,  and  galloped  off  with  the  speed  of  the  wind. 

In  the  meanwhile,  let  us  return  to  other  and  more  interesting 
characters  in  our  story.  Young  Boiling,  with  his  beautiful 
beloved  and  Lucy,  went  on,  the  night  after  the  battle,  with 
General  Houston  to  Shelbyville.  Here  they  unexpectedly  met 
with  Jack  Miles  and  his  six  gigantic  sons,  who  having  learned 
the  situation  of  their  fair,  and  favorite  relative  among  the  rob 
bers,  had  shouldered  their  rifles,  and  hastened  to  the  rescue. 
Their  delight  was  extreme  to  find  her  safe  from  the  danger,  min 
gled  however  with  sad  regret  for  the  fate  of  her  unhappy  father, 


384  RANGERS   AND   REGULATORS   OF   THE   TANAHA. 

whom  all  concluded  to  be  drowned,  and  as  the  fact  turned  out  to 
be,  as  the  dead  body  was  discovered  the  following  afternoon. 

The  corpse  of  the  colonel  was  buried  with  the  usual  ceremo 
nies,  and  the  two  young  lovers,  having  placed  a  suitable  person 
in  charge  of  the  farm,  attended  by  the  faithful  Caesar,  went  home 
with  their  uncle,  determined  after  a  suitable  lapse  of  time,  to 
celebrate  their  bridal,  in  the  same  neighborhood  where  they  had 
plighted  their  hearts,  by  the  first  burning  vows  of  undying  love. 

The  re-union  of  these  friends,  with  the  hunter,  Sol  Tuttle  and 
his  joyful  family,  may  be  far  better  imagined,  than  it  can  possibly 
be  described.  As  soon  as  the  mutual  feelings  and  congratula 
tions  had  been  exchanged  with  the  other  members  of  old  Jack's 
household,  Boiling  and  his  affianced  bride  hurried  off  to  see  their 
neighbors. 

It  was  a  delicious  afternoon  in  the  virgin  prime  of  spring  ;  and 
their  souls  harmonized  well  with  heaven's  own  stainless  blue — 
that  divine  tint,  the  sacred  one  of  love,  among  all  the  radiant 
colors  of  the  rainbow  ;  and  the  angel  hope  sung  in  their  hearts, 
sweeter  "Bongs  than  any  bird  of  the  forest.  They  passed  beneath 
that  tree  with  snowy  flowers,  which  had  flung  down  its  bright 
blooms  upon  their  mingled  hair,  at  the  moment  of  their  earliest 
kiss,  nor  is  it  recorded  that  they  did  not  repeat  this  pleasant 
experiment. 

"  Here,  y'  are  at  last !  "  exclaimed  Sol,  rushing  from  the  door 
to  hail  them  ;  but  he  broke  suddenly  down  with  his  intended 
compliments,  and  burst  into  tears  of  uncontrollable  rapturous 

joy. 

"I'd  give  y'  both  my  hands,"  said  the  hunter,  mastering, 


THE  LAST.  385 

at  length  his  emotion  ;  "but  the  brutes  roasted  'em  so  that  I 
have  to  keep  'em  bound  up." 

Are  they  much  injured  ?  "  inquired  Boiling  anxiously. 

"  Oh,  they'll  git  well  arter  a  while,"  answered  the  other  care 
lessly  j  "  I  hurt  'em  wusser,  howsumever,  strikin'  the  lynchers 
in  the  fight,  than  they  did  in  the  fire.  But  step  inside  and  see 
the  old  'oman  and  the  little  folks." 

Susy  and  the  children  immediately  crowded  around  them  with 
boisterous  delight,  and  the  beautiful  babe,  the  common  idol  of  the 
household,  was  duly  presented  for  its  share  of  attention.  As 
the  two  lovers  kissed  its  little  smiling  lips  by  turns,  Sol  remarked, 
"it's  quite  well  to  practise  that  sort  of  jewty  ;  fur  ye'll  likely 
have  plenty  on  it  to  do  arter  a  spell,  on  yer  own  account." 

"  La  !  Tuttle,  how  ken  y'  run  on  so  1"  reproved  the  laughing 
wife,  while  a  pair  of  other  faces  turned  to  a  burning  crimson. 

"Why,  Susy,"  persisted  the  hunter,  with  the  old  merry  devil 
of  mischief  in  his  twinkling  black  eye  ;  "  what  else  are  people 
made  fur  but  to  marry  and  hev  children  ?  A  cabin  without 
children,  is  wuss  nor  a  field  and  no  corn,  or  a  night  without 
stars.  To  buss  babies  comes  as  nateral  to  young  folks,  as  fodder 
comes  to  a  hungry  hoss." 

What  farther  lofty  and  philosophical  views  Sol  might  have 
predicated  as  to  the  final  purpose  of  man's  creation,  I  am  una 
ble  to  register  ;  for  at  the  instant  Boiling  interposed  cunningly 
with  the  question  ; 

"  Where  is  Jack  Randolph  ?  " 

"  0,  he's  out  somewhar,  shootin'  at  a  mark,  I'll  warrant," 
answered  the  hunter  with  a  look  of  parental  pride  ;  "  he  thinks 

17 


886  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

hisself  a  man  now,  since  he  killed  one.  I  guess  as  how,  I'll  hev 
to  take  him  down  a  button  hole  lower." 

As  he  spoke,  footsteps  sounded  at  the  door,  and  Dave  entered, 
accompanied  by  the  huge  form  of  Mose  Miller. 

"  How  is  this,  brother  ?  "  exclaimed  Sol,  his  black  eyes  blazing 
with  sudden  wrath  ;  "  why  did  y'  bring  that  cussed  feller  here 
fur,  what  tuk  us  prisoners  ?" 

"  Becaze,  he's  a  good  critter  arter  all,"  replied  Dave,  casting 
on  the  saddened  visage  of  Mose,  a  look  of  profound  sympathy  ; 
"  and  I've  just  brung  him  home,  with  me  to  cure  his  sore  hand 
what  I  smashed  orfully. 

"  How  ? ';  cried,  Sol  in  amazement. 

"  Why  !  f  see,  I  cotch  him  with  old  Morrow,  in  the  holler 
sycamore,"  commenced  Dave. 

"  Old  Morrow  !  where  is  he  ? "  shouted  Sol  with  the  voice 
of  a  Lybian  lion,  and  gnashing  his  teeth  with  rage. 

"  He's  in  tother  world  now  !  "  responded  Dave  in  low  solemn 
tones  ;  "  all  scores  are  settled  at  last  !  " 

"  Did  y'  shoot  him  frum  the  brush  ?  "  gasped,  the  hunter, 
almost  stunned  by  the  intelligence. 

"  No,  I  fout  him  a  far  jewel,  with  revolvers,  and  plugged  him 
in  the  forehead  as  this  ere  chap  can  witness,"  said  Dave  earnestly  ; 
and  he  proceeded  to  detail,  at  length,  all  the  facts  of  the 
case. 

"  I'm  glad  on  it,"  affirmed  Sol,  at  the  close  of  the  thrilling 
tale  ;  ' '  becaze  I  allers  hate  fur  my  wurst  enemy  to  be  shot, 
without  hevin'  a  shake  fur  his  life." 

"Well,  brother,  ain't  you  guyin  to  make  friends  with  this 


THE    LAST.  387 

poor  feller  ?  He  wurn't  so  much  to  blame  arter  all  ;  as  they 
telled  him  sich  bloody  lies  about  you,"  observed  Dave. 

"  Sartinly,"  answered  Sol  kindly  ;  "  Mose,  you're  welcome  to 
stay  with  us  as  long  as  you  please,  and  the  longer  the  better. 
We'll  try  to  doctor  up  yer  sore  hand,  and  if  it  can't  be  cured 
we'll  support  ye.  Thar  will  be  a  couple  of  us  on  the  sick-fingered 
list,  fur  my  own  paws  are  bad  scorched,  I'll  swar." 

"  Oh  !  you  two  are  so  generous,  and  I  don't  deserve  it  I" 
murmured  Miller,  weeping  tears  of  gratitude. 

Just  then  young  Jack  Randolph  entered,  crying  out  eagerly  ; 
"  Well,  Daddy,  I've  druv  the  centre  a  dozen  times  !"  He 
halted  an  instant,  and  then  rushed  to  the  arms  of  his  smiling 
uncle,  but  still  kept  his  eyes  on  Mose  with  a  gleam  of  ferocious 
revenge. 

Dave  narrated  briefly  to  the  boy,  what  had  occurred  ;  and 
then  remarked,  "  now  go  and  shake  hands  with  our  new  friend 
there  ;"  and  he  pointed  at  Miller. 

"  I  wont  do  it,"  replied  Jack  with  a  sulky  look  ;  "  onless  he'll 
fight  me  in  a  jewel !'' 

"  What  do  y'  mean,  rascal  ?"  ejaculated  his  father  laughing  ; 
"  you  ort  to  remember  that  it  ain't  in  the  old  Pocahontas  blood 
to  be  malicious." 

"  Oh,  daddy,  I  only  want  him  to  fight  me  with  paper  bullets, 
as  me  and  you  does  sometimes  of  a  Sunday,"  said  Jack. 

The  hunter  dropped  his  glance,  with  rather  a  sheepish  look 
upon  the  floor,  at  this  unexpected  revelation  of  his  childish  pas- 
times. 

Mose  Miller,  however,  assented  to  the  proposition,  and  was 


388  RANGERS    AND   REGULATORS    OF   THE   TAN  AHA. 

immediately  installed  very  high,  in  young  Randolph's  favor, 
who  soon  loved  him  as  a  brother. 

As  William  Boiling  and  Mary  walked  home  to  her  uncle's, 
they  paused  in  the  golden  light  of  the  setting  sun,  beneath  their 
now  favorite  tree  of  the  snow  white-blossoms,  and  agreed  upon 
a  day  for  their  union.  They  also  settled  that  they  should  invite 
the  family  of  Judge  Moore,  with  several  others  to  witness  their 
bridal,  and  that  the  itinerant,  Hiram  Baker,  should  perform  the 
nuptial  ceremony. 

"  Can  you  think  of  any  more  guests,  whose  attendance  would 
be  desirable,  dear  Mary  ?"  asked  the  youth. 

"Yes,  there  is  one  other,"  faltered  the  fair  girl,  with  a  blush, 
"  but  I  fear  that  you  may  object." 

"  Who  is  it  ?"  inquired  Boiling,  with  much  surprise. 

"  Poor  Lucy  !"  murmured  Mary  ;  "  she  was  so  kind  to  me  in 
my  misfortunes  ;  and  indeed  we  owe  our  very  lives  to  her,  as 
well  as  our  present  and  future  happiness  I" 

"  Noble,  generous  heart  1"  exclaimed  her  lover,  with  a  coun 
tenance  of  beaming  enthusiasm  ;  "  it  shall  be  as  you  say.  We 
will  not  prove  ourselves  ungrateful,  however,  it  may  shock  the 
whims  of  public  opinion  ;  for  the  holy  instincts  of  our  nature, 
and  the  divine  dictates  of  conscience,  are  safer  guides  than  all 
the  cold  calculations  of  prudence  and  self-interest,  although 
illumed  by  the  dryest  light  of  reason." 

Boiling  spent  the  intervening  time,  before  the  day  of  the 
union,  alternately  at  the  houses  of  the  two  neighbors.  Now  he 
would  hunt  in  the  green  woods,  or  grassy  prairies  with  Dave, 
and  then  engage  in  mock  duels  with  Jack  Randolph.  Again  he 


THE  LAST.  389 

would  wander  in  the  sweet  isle  of  forest,  culling  flowers  wkh  his 
beautiful  bride  and  the  fair  cousin  Flora  ;  and  every  bloom  then 
was  full  of  glory,  every  leaf  flashed  like  gold  ;  for  the  rose-hues 
of  happy  love  lay  on  the  land  as  celestial  light,  and  added  even 
a  deeper  dye  to  the  boundless  blue  of  heaven.  All  the  universe 
seemed  to  these  young  souls,  like  the  fabric  of  a  divine  and  gor 
geous  dream,  and  the  wide  world  held  nothing  but  radiant  pic 
tures.  He  who  has  never  known  the  immortal  magic  of  such 
blissful  hours,  has  never  truly  lived.  It  is  the  flowering  of  the 
fruit-tree  of  real  existence— the  first  music  of  the  JEolian  heart 
strings,  stirred  by  the  breath  of  God  ! 

At   length   the   wedding  day,   bright    and  beautiful   as  the 
coming  of  an  angel,   broke  on   the  eyes  of  the  lovers.     Their 
guests  had  arrived  the  evening  before,  and  indeed  they  were  so, 
numerous,    that    the    humble    log    cabin    could   not   contain 
them. 

In  this  emergency,  when  every  person  wished  to  witness  the 
ceremony,  old  Uncle  Jack  proposed  that  they  should  adjourn  to 
the  neighboring  grove,  and  they  all  soon  gathered  beneath  the 
dear  old  tree  of  the  sunny  snow  flowers  ;  so  that  by  a  singular 
chance,  the  same  queen  of  the  forest  which  had  listened  to  their 
first  burning  vows,  now  saw  their  fulfilment. 

It  was  truly  a  most  enchanting  scene,  to  behold  these  young 
lovers,  in  all  their  youth  and  beauty,  standing  side  by  side  in  the 
open  air,  with  the  minister  of  the  Almighty  before  them,  to  record 
their  mutual  oath  of  eternal  tenderness  and  truth.  What  bridal 
hall,  what  holy  cathedral,  could  be  for  a  moment  compared  to  this, 
the  great  temple  of  nature  ?  What  pillars  of  monumental  marb'ta 


390  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE   TANAHA. 

might  equal  those  Titanian  trunks,  formed  of  living  fibres,  and 
crowned  with  snowy  blossoms  of  their  own  creation  ?  Where 
could  you  find  a  magical  dome  fit  to  be  named  in  the  same  breath 
with  yonder  blue  arched  temple,  bent  by  the  hand  of  God  ? 
Might  the  wealth  of  the  world  itself,  though  rifled  of  all  its  gems 
and  gold,  furnish  another  flaming  chandelier,  like  the  mighty 
morning  sun  ? 

Sweet  was  the  murmur  of  their  vows,  like  the  sound  of  silver- 
singing  rain  on  house-tops,  and  burning  beamed  the  love-light  in 
their  eyes,  as  the  sunshine  that  gilded  green  leaf  and  glowing 
flower  ;  and  when  their  rosy  lips  trembled  to  the  first  chaste  kiss, 
according  to  the  dear  old  custom  so  common  yet  in  the  back 
woods,  a  thousand  musical  birds  sung  their  marriage-hymn,  in 
music  richer  than  ever  rung  from  any  choir  of  human  voices, 
ever  breathed  from  the  most  cunning  instrument  framed  by  mor 
tal  art  ! 

Lucy  was  the  first  to  congratulate  the  happy  pair,  and  she  did 
so  with  blended  smiles  and  tears,  such  as  the  sunbeam  and 
falling  pearl-drops  of  the  summer-cloud,  mingle  in  the  rainbow 
of  heaven.  She  looked,  at  the  instant,  transcendently  beautiful. 
The  snowy  whiteness  of  her  flowing  dress  of  muslin  presented  a 
fine  contrast  with  her  long  ringlets  of  raven  hair,  with  the  golden, 
gorgeous  tint  of  her  complexion,  and  the  dark  light  of  her 
bewildering  black  eyes. 

But  as  she  uttered  her  wishes  of  joy,  at  the  very  moment  that 
she  clasped  the  hand  of  the  bride,  she  suddenly  shook  with  an 
awful  tremor,  and  turned  pale  as  her  own  stainless  robes  ;  for 
she  saw  a  couple  of  demoniac  eyes  gleaming  before  her  in  the 


THE  LAST.  391 

border  of  the  green  bushes,  and  the  horrible  hand  of  Comanche 
Ben,  beckoning  her  towards  him  ! 

She  endeavored  to  approach  him,  fearing  that  he  would 
become  maddened,  and  proclaim  their  frightful  secret  to  the 
assembled  spectators  ;  but  if  her  very  life,  if  the  salvation  of  her 
soul  had  depended  on  the  deed,  she  could  not  have  moved  a  mus 
cle,  such  a  strange  terror  had  possessed  her  bodily.  Her  heart 
seemed  changed  to  ice,  while  the  weight  of  an  avalanche  lay 
upon  her  half-frenzied  brain. 

The  Indian,  scowling  like  a  devil,  advanced  to  within  three 
feet  of  the  horrified  woman,  and  said,  in  a  voice  calm  as  the  air 
before  the  first  clap  of  a  thunder-storm  : 

"  Lucy,  I  have  come  to  claim  my  reward.  Here  is  the  priest ; 
will  you  now  be  my  wife  ?7' 

"  No,"  gasped  the  miserable  girl,  with  features  white  and  rigid 
as  those  of  a  marble  statue. 

"When  shall  we  be  wedded?"  he  hissed,  like  a  furious  serpent. 

"  Never  !"  she  cried,  in  appalling  tones. 

"  Never  ?"  he  echoed,  with  an  accent  that- startled  the  woods 
like  the  wild  howl  of  a  wolf. 

His  countenance  was  so  terrible,  so  fearfully  infernal  in  its 
wrath,  that  Lucy  almost  repented  her  negation,  and  faltered  : 

"  He  is  not  hung  yet  I" 

"  And  that  is  the  reason,  why  I  have  come  to  demand  you  as 
my  bride  now,"  replied  the  Indian,  more  tranquilly  ;  "  for  the 
captain  never  will  be  hung !" 

"  Why  ?  what  do  you  mean,  ugly  imp  of  hell  ?"  she  screamed, 
like  a  lunatic. 


392  RANGERS    AND    REGULATORS    OF   THE    TANAHA. 

"  Last  night,  the  band  from  Arkansas,  overpowered  the  guard, 
broke  open  the  prison  and  liberated  Carlyle,"  answered  the  sav 
age,  with  a  fiendish  smile  of  joy. 

"  You  lie  1"  shrieked  the  wretched  woman,  rolling  her  eyes, 
as  if  in  a  frenzy. 

"  Here  is  the  proclamation  of  the  President,  offering  a  thou 
sand  dollars,  by  way  of  reward  for  his  apprehension,"  affirmed 
the  Indian,  holding  out  the  document. 

She  snatched  it  from  his  fingers  ;  saw  the  name  of  Sam 
Houston  ;  devoured  the  contents  with  a  glance,  like  lightning  ; 
uttered  a  wild,  wailing  cry,  mournful  as  the  last  lamentation  of 
a  condemned  soul ;  leaped  high  into  the  air,  and  fell  back  upon 
the  earth,  like  a  stone  I 

They  raised  the  dying  woman  in  their  arms  ;  but  a  torrent  of 
warm  blood  gushed  from  her  mouth  and  nostrils,  and  within  the 
minute,  that  fiery  spirit,  so  terrible  in  its  love  and  hate,  passed 
away  forever,  like  a  dream  ! 

"  Dog  of  an  Injun  I"  exclaimed  Dave  Tuttle,  seizing  the 
Comanche  by  the  throat ;  "  has  Carlyle  raley  got  outer  jail  ? 
Tell  the  truth,  or  I'll  cut  it  from  yer  hellish  heart  !" 

"  No,"  answered  the  savage  ;  "  the  captain  forged  the  signa 
ture  of  the  President,  ill  order  to  kill  Lucy,  and  it  has  done  it, 
I  trust  !" 

"  Away  !  and  never  show  yer  ugly  face  in  Texas  agin  I  " 
roared  Dave,  flourishing  his  bowie-knife,  and  hurling  the 
Comanche  from  him,  who  disappeared  in  the  thicket,  and  was 
never  more  heard  of. 

The  beautiful  bride  flew  to  the  body  of  her  fallen  friend, 


THE  LAST.  393 

exclaiming  wildly  ;  "  wake  up,  Lucy  dear  :  he  owns  the  falsehood  ! 
Oh  !  arouse  ;  it  is  Mary  calls  you  !  " 

Alas  !  that  dull  ear  of  death  shall  never  more  hearken  to  any 
sound  less  than  the  final  call  of  the  archangel,  and  the  last  loud 
trump  of  God  !  Those  dark  eyes  shall  never  beam  again  with 
love  or  anger,  till  they  look  upon  the  lightnings  of  the  day  of 
doom. 

And  they  buried  the  once  beautiful,  but  erring  clay  there, 
beneath  that  Texan  tree  of  the  snowy  flowers,  the  silent  witness  of 
so  much  love  and  hatred,  of  such  infinite  joy  and  amazing  sorrow. 
But  still  the  bright  birds  sing  as  merrily  among  its  green  leaves, 
and  the  bees  hum  as  busily  around  the  honey-dew  of  its  radiant 
blossom^,  as  if  no  wild  heart  had  ever  broken  under  its  sunny 
branches.  Only  the  night  winds  moan  a  melancholy  dirge  above 
the  head  of  that  pale  sleeper,  and  the  large-eyed  owls  repeat 
again  and  again,  that  last  lingering  wail,  the  shriek  of  measure 
less  despair,  the  death-cry  of  her  pale  spirit. 

On  the  following  day,  with  saddened  hearts,  the  new  husband 
and  wife,  accompanied  by  their  fair  cousin  Flora,  returned  to 
their  home,  the  block-house  of  the  late  Colonel  Miles,  and  the 
faithful  Caesar  was  immediately  installed  in  the  office  of  general 
overseer,  a  post  which  he  filled  with  as  much  profit  to  his  indul 
gent  master,  as  humanity  towards  his  fellow  servants. 

Boiling,  indeed,  at  first,  proffered  him  a  paper  of  manumis 
sion  ;  but  the  African  tore  it  in  pieces  before  his  eyes,  with  the 
disdainful  remark  ;  "  this  ere  chile  has  seen  enough  of  boboli- 
tion  !  " 

The  two  Bartons  and  their  sweethearts,  the  sisters  Ewing, 

17* 


394        RANGERS  AND  REGULATORS  OF  THE  TANAHA. 

were  married  the  next  evening,  after  their  liberation  from  the 
clutches  of  the  lynchers,  and  the  widowed  mother  of  the  girls 
lives  alternately  at  the  dwellings  of  her  children,  and  still  amu 
ses  the  young  generation  with  the  nightly  music  of  her  somnife 
rous  intonations. 

Jonathan  Hutson,  the  moment  he  was  freed  from  his 
captivity  by  the  Texan  Rangers,  fled  from  the  unhealthy 
atmosphere  of  the  Tanaha  to  parts  unknown. 

Lawyer  Rider  yet  flourishes  in  Shelbyville,  and  has  not  been 
cured  of  his  old  bird-like  habit  of  pecking  the  air,  with  his  beak 
at  the  sight  or  even  smell  of  a  fee.  He  has  lately  been  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Texan  legislature  where  he  electrified  the  natives  by  a 
furious  speech  in  favor  of  the  next  war  ! 

Parson  Johnson  recovered  from  the  severe  blow,  which  he 
received  in  the  block-house  of  Major  Morrow,  during  the  fight 
with  the  rangers,  and  both  himself  and  his  brother  Carter,  have 
since  eschewed  the  perilous  practice  of  lynching,  and  prosper  well 
in  life. 

The  fanatic  minister  Dodson,  despairing  of  the  millenium, 
after  the  defeat  of  the  regulators,  turned  Millerite,  fixed  a  day 
for  the  final  conflagration  of  the  world,  and  succeeded  in  fright 
ening  many  people  almost  out  of  their  senses,  by  setting  the 
prairies  on  fire,  while  a  fierce  norther  was  blowing  ;  but  it  all 
ended  in  smoke.  Subsequently  he  became  a  spirit-rapper,  yet  I 
am  sorry  to  say,  that  the  trumps  were  usually  loudest  on  the 
counters  of  groceries,  and  that  the  legs  of  the  operator  commonly 
reeled  more  than  those  of  his  tables. 

The  itinerant,  Hiram  Baker,  wedded  the  beautiful  and  accom- 


THE  LAST.  395 

plished  Jenny  Moore,  and  mainly  through  his  influence,  instead 
of  the  moral  desert,  which  it  once  presented,  tlje  country  now 
may  be  favorably  compared  with  any  section  of  the  western 
world,  either  as  to  the  orderly  conduct  of  its  inhabitants,  or  their 
observance  of  all  ethical  and  Christian  duties. 

Alfred  Moore  selected  for  his  life-partner  the  lovely  Flora 
Miles,  and  changing  his  wild  habits,  became  the  model  of  a  good 
citizen,  and  successful  planter. 

Captain  Carlyle  was  hung  pursuant  to  his  awful  sentence,  and 
exhibited  under  the  gallows  a  reckless  yet  lofty  daring,  which 
astonished  every  beholder,  for  all  his  power  of  will  revived  as 
soon  as  he  learned  the  fearful  fate  of  Lucy.  His  last  shout  in 
a  voice  of  thunder,  before  the  appalling  leap,  was,  "  Eternal 
destiny,  I  defy  thee  still !  " 

Curran  received  a  full  pardon,  from  President  Houston,  con 
trary  indeed  to  his  wishes.  He  afterwards  joined  the  church, 
was  ordained  a  minister,  and  is  at  present  a  missionary  in  some 
far  foreign  land. 

A  month  or  two  subsequently  to  the  occurrence  of  the  bridal 
of  William  Boiling  and  Mary  Miles,  they  paid  another  visit  to 
their  relations  in  the  prairie  ;  and  the  same  day  hurried  to  the 
house  of  Sol  Tuttle,  taking  Uncle  Jack  along  with  them. 

They  found  young  Randolph  and  Mose  Miller,  who  had  now 
nearly  recovered  the  use  of  his  wounded  hand,  eagerly  engaged 
in  fighting  sham  duels  in  the  yard,  while  the  hunter  stood  laugh 
ing  at  the  scene  from  his  door. 

"  Well,  Fm  powerful  glad  to  see  y'  both,"  cried  Sol,  wringing 
the  fingers  of  the  new  husband  and  wife  with  a  will,  that  almost 


396  RANGERS   AND    REGULATORS    OP   THE    TANAHA. 

caused  Mary  to  scream  with  the  pain  of  the  griping  pressure  ; 
"  walk  in  and  kiss  the  baby." 

As  soon  as  the  kindly  greetings  ended,  Boiling  remarked, 
with  an  affected  solemnity  of  voice  and  manner  ;  "  Mr.  Tuttle, 
you  owe  my  present  visit  to  business  rather  than  pleasure.  I 
have  come  out  to  take  a  look  at  my  land." 

"  You  have  bought  Judge  Moore's  big  parrary  track  then  I 
suppose,"  suggested  Sol. 

"Yes,  thirty-three  leagues,"  answered  the  other;  "and  I 
thought,  perhaps,  that  I  might  sell  you  a  piece  of  it." 

"  Not  onless  you'd  hev  payment  in  deerskins,  at  a  monstrous 
high  valeation  too  ;  fur  you  ort  to  know  that  I'm  not  able  to 
buy  enough  to  bury  me,"  said  the  hunter  with  a  gloomy  and 
somewhat  displeased  air. 

"  But  I  will  credit  you,"  insisted  Boiling. 

"  No,  I  wish  I  may  be  turned  to  a  toad  if  j'  do,"  retorted  Sol 
warmly  ;  "fur  I  won't  promise  what  I  can't  pay,  that's  short 
metre.  None  of  my  family  ever  owned  the  sile  whar  they 
hunted  ;  becaze,  though  we  were  of  the  ginuine  Pocahontas  blood, 
I  guess  we  take  arter  the  old  injun  grandmother,  while  the 
balance  on  ye  are  the  grit  of  the  white  great  grandaddy.  But, 
howsumever  money  won't  stick  to  our  paws,  no  more  nor  rain  on 
a  goose's  back. 

"Well,  Sol,  I  was  only  joking/'  observed  Boiling  with  a 
smile  ;  "  I  cannot  sell  you  the  homestead,  for  it  is  yours  already. 
Here  is  a  recorded  deed  to  a  mile  square  around  your  house  ; 
and  here  is  another  of  the  same  sort  for  Uncle  Jack  ;"  and  ha 
presented  the  documents  to  their  true  proprietors. 


THE  LAST.  397 

The  hunter  gazed  on  the  undeniable  evidence  of  his  new  acqui 
sition  as  a  real  land  owner  of  the  country,  at  jirst  with  a  stupid 
look,  as  if  unable  to  believe  his  eyes,  and  then  seizing  the  hand 
of  his  benefactor,  he  essayed  to  express  his  gratitude  ;  but  the 
emotion  proved  too  mighty  for  his  utterance.  His  bosom 
swelled,  his  lip  quivered,  and  bursting  into  tears  he  left  the 
room.  He  returned,  however,  in  a  few  minutes,  with  the  old 
merry  twinkle  in  his  eyes,  and  remarked  ;  "  Mr.  Boiling,  I  guess 
ye'll  think  me  a  fool,  and  you'd  be  about  right  fur  that  matter, 
but  when  my  heart  gits  high  here  in  my  throat,  cuss  me,  if  my 
tongue  don't  allers  hang  fire.  Howsumever,  y'  know  well 
enough  my  feelins." 


THB     END. 


MAYNE  REID'S  HUNTING  AND  TEAPPING  ADVENTURES. 


THE  HUNTERS'  FEAST 


CONVERSATIONS  AROUND  THE  CAMP-FIRE. 
BY    OAPT.    MAYNE    REID, 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  RIFLE  RANGERS,"   "THE  SCALP  HUNTERS,"   BTC. 

Beautifully  Illustrated  with  Engravings  by  N.  OKU.     Price  $1 


WE  venture  to  say  that  there  is  no  book  extant  which  gives  such  a  thrilling  and  yet 
trithful  narrative  of  the  stirring  and  perilous  life  of  a  Trapper,  as  does  the  deeply 
interesting  arid  instructive  volume  before  us.  The  author,  whose  powers  of  description 
are  well  known  to  the  American  reader  through  the  medium  of  his  "  RIFLE  RANGERS,"  &c., 
ha.6  most  admirably  blended  instruction  with  amusement,  for,  while  "  IKE,  THE  WOLF- 
KU.LER,"  shews  the  Camp-Fire  with  his  never  failing  anecdotes,  the  HUNTER-NATURALIST 
Vil  es  every  occasion  to  inform  the  delighted  auditory  of  the  habits,  haunts  and  character- 
.jties  of  the  animal  under  discussion,  and  this  he  does  in  a  manner  which  cannot  fail 
to  fix  the  information  in  the  memory  of  the  reader.  The  following  Synopsis  of  Content! 
may  serve  to  give  some  idea  of  the  adventures  to  be  met  with  in  this  extraordinary 
w  wa. 


CONTENTS. 


A  Hunting  Party. 

T\lt  Camp  and  Camp-Fire. 

Besancon's  Adventures  in  the  Swamps. 

The  Passenger  Pigeons. 

Hunt  with  a  Howitzer. 

Killing  a  Cougar. 

The  Cougar. 

Old  Ike's  Adventure. 

The  Musquash. 

A  Rat-Hunt. 

Mosquitoes  and  their  Antidote. 

The  'Coon  and  his  Habits. 

A  'Coon  Chase. 

Wild  Hogs  of  the  Woods. 

Treed  by  Peccaries. 

A  Duck-Shooting  Adventure. 

Hunting  the  Vicuna. 

A  Chacu  of  Vicunas. 

Bqnirrul  Shooting. 

fleeing  a  Bear. 


The  Black  Bear  of  America. 

The  Trapper  Trapped. 

The  American  Deer. 

Deer-Hunt  in  a  "Dug-Out." 

Old  Ike  and  the  Grizzly. 

A  Battle  with  Grizzly  Bears. 

The  Swans  of  America. 

Hunting  the  Moose. 

The  Prairie  Wolf  and  Wolf  Killer. 

Hunting  the  Tapir. 

Adventure  with  a  Buffalo. 

The  Bison. 

Trailing  the  Buffalo. 

Approaching  the  Buffalo. 

Unexpected  Guests. 

A  Supper  of  Wolf-Mutton. 

Hare  Hunting  and  Cricket  Driving. 

A  Grand  Battue. 

Tin-  Uonif  H'Miu-. 


ROBERT  M..DE  WITT,  PUBLISHED 

160  &  162  NASSAU  STREET,  N.  Y. 


I  AT  E    W  E  S  T  0  N  ; 

OR, 

TO  WILL  AND  TO  DO. 

BY  JENFIE  DE  WITT, 

Beautifully  Illustrated  with  Engravings  by  N.  ORR. 
One  volume  of  456  pages,  Handsomely  bound  in  Cloth.    Price  $1  25. 


From  the  mass  of  literature  that  is  presented  to  the  public,  a  careful  discrimination  in 
called  for  to  distinguish  between  the  false  and  the  true,  the  maral  and  the  immoral. 

"  When  we  find  talent  and  genius,  with  great  power  of  invention  and  vivid  description, 
combined  with  a  decided  moral  tendency,  comprising  the  elements  of  a  work,  it  must  b« 
conceded  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  contributions  to  the  literature  of  the  age." 

One  of  the  most  eminent  literary  men  of  the  country,  who  has  perused  an  advano* 
copy,  accords  the  above  high  meed  of  praise  to  KATE  WESTON,  and  predicts  an  extensive 
circulation.  No  work  that  has  issued  from  the  press  for  years,  contains  characteristici 
more  naturally  and  captivatingly  drawn.  There  is  not  a  passage  in  the  entire  456  pages, 
that  has  been  written  merely  to  fill  out  the  book,  but  every  line  bears  an  interest  to  th« 
completion  of  a  most  masterly  plot.  The  reader  will  close  the  book  with  a  lasting  im 
pression,  and  a  high  resolve  To  WILL  AN»  To  Do. 


CONTENTS. 


An  Unwelcome  Visitor. 

Guardians. 

Early  Dreamings. 

The  Fishing  Party. 

Millionaire  and  Beggar. 

The  Fledgling. 

Music  and  Mirth. 

Father  Benson. 

Aunt  Biddy's  Visit. 

A  Good  Time. 

Pledges. 

Peculiar  Discipline. 

The  First  Error.    ' 

The  Face  of  a  Man. 

Who  Ought  to  be  Hanged. 

Looking  Through  One's  own  Glasses. 

A  Leaf  of  Life. 

Out  of  the  Snare. 

Successful  Debut. 


Poor  Clarence  I 

Too  Late. 

Haste  to  the  Wedding. 

The  Ramble. 

A  New  Phase  of  Temptation. 

And  yet  Another. 

A  Day's  Work. 

Wages  at  Evening. 

Time  Flies. 

The  Election. 

The  Hour  of  Triumph. 

Grave  of  Ambition. 

Killing  the  Fatted  Calf. 

Fruits  of  Discipline. 

Morning  Breaking. 

Discoveries,  A  Departure. 

Retribution. 

The  Outcasts'  Burial. 

Melodv. 


ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  PUBLISHER, 

160  &  162  NASSAU  STREET,  N.  Y. 


ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  PUBLISHER, 


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Mrs.  Moodie's  descriptions  of  frontier  life  have  never  been  surpassed. — Boston  Times. 

Mrs.  Moodie  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  able  female  writers,  and  we  cordially  recom 
mend  "  Roughing  it  in  the  Bush"  to  our  readers. — Alton  Courier. 

It  is  written  in  a  beautiful,  simple  style,  truthful  and  lifelike,  with  that  peculiar  fascinat 
ing  manner  and  dry,  quiet  humor  that  is  so  peculiarly  her  own. — PhUa.  Christian 
Observer. 


LIFE  IN   THE    CLEARINGS   vs.    THE    BUSH. 
Price,  in  paper,  50  cts. ;  elegantly  bound  in  cloth)  '/5  cte. 

•I  have  been  repeatedly  asked,  since  the  publication  of  "Roughing  it  in  the  Bush," 
to  give  an  account  of  the  present  state  of  society,  and  to  point  out  its  increasing  pros 
perity  and  commercial  advantages ;  but  stajisiics  are  not  my  forte,  nor  do  I  feel  myself 
qualified  for  such  an  arduous  and  important  task.  My  knowledge  is  too  limited  to  enable 
me  to  write  a  comprehensive  work  on  a  subject  of  vital  consequence,  which  might  involve 
the  happiness  of  others.  But  what  I  do  know  I  will  endeavour  to  sketch  with  a  light 
pencil ;  and  if  I  cannot  convey  much  useful  information,  I  will  try  to  amuse  the  reader; 
and  by  a  mixture  of  prose  and  poetry  compile  a  small  volume,  which  may  help  to  while 
away  an  idle  hour,  or  fill  up  the  blanks  of  a  wet  day." — Authors  Preface.  [Nearly  Ready]. 


MARK    HURDLESTONE; 
OE,  THE  TWO  BROTHERS. 

Price,  in  paper,  50  cts. ;  elegantly  bound  in  cloth,  75  ots, 

We  advise  all  who  get  this  book  not  to  take  it  up  late  in  the  evening,  for  they  will  be 
sure  to  spend  the  night  in  reading  it.  It  is  impossible  to  leave  off,  so  hurrying  and  in 
tense  is  the  interest. — Lynn  (J/a*s.)  News. 

The  work  before  us  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  ever  published  by  a  woman,  fall  of 
deep  meaning,  of  stern  truths,  and  pure  morality. — Portsmouth  (N.  ff.~)  Journal. 


A    NEW    WORK, 

BY  THE  AUTHOR  OP  "  ROUGHING  IT  IN  THE  BUSH. 


OR, 

THE    FAITHLESS    GUARDIAN. 
BY  MRS.   MOODIE. 

AUTHOR   OF    "  HOUGHING  IT  IN  THE  BUSH,"  "FLORA  LINDSAY,"  "  LIFE  IN 
THE  CLEARINGS  VS.  THE  BUSH,"  MARK  HURDLESTONE,"  &0.  &0. 

One  handsome  volume.    Price,  in  cloth,  $1. 


The  talented  author  of  "  Roughing  it  in  the  Bush,"  has  thrown  all  her  power  into  this 
work,  which  is  by  far  the  best  of  the  many  excellent  ones  that  have  issued  from  her  pen  ; 
and  we  think  will  make  a  sensation  both  here  and  in  England,  as  the  most  brilliant  novel 
of  the  day.  By  special  arrangement  with  Mrs.  Moodie,  and  by  a  liberal  outlay,  this  work 
is  printed  first  in  this  country,  and  the  proof-sheets  sent  to  Bentley  and  published 
in  England  simultaneously  with  the  issue  here. 

The  characters  in  this  work  are  drawn  with  a  most  masterly  hand,  evincing  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  main-springs  of  human  action,  and  a  deep  insight  into  the  controlling 
passions  which  prompt  us  to  good  or  to  evil.  The  designing  and  wicked  lawyer,  who 
proved  so  false  to  his  trust,  and  who,  like  the  loathsome  spider,  wove  his  web  with  such 
subtle  skill  around  the  innocent  objects  committed  to  his  charge,  finds  himself  foiled  at 
last,  and  reaps  a  terrible  harvest  of  blood  at  the  hands  of  his  own  wicked  and  unfilial 
offspring.  So  true  is  it  that 

"  He  who  sows  the  storm 
Will  reap  the  whirlwind." 

The  gentle- innocence  of  the  unsuspecting  ward,  who  so  haplessly  falls  Into  the  snare 
prepared  for  her,  is  most  beautifully  pourtrayed,  while  the  contemplation  of  such  a  fiend 
in  human  shape  as  Dinah  North,  makes  us  turn  to  the  good  Sir  Alexander  and  his  noble 
daughter  with  a  keener  appreciation  of  the  honest  and  the  good. 

CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

I.  My  grandfather  and  his  Sons. 

II.  My  Mother's  Funeral. 

III.  My  Aunt  Rebecca. 

IV.  The  Tutor. 

V.  A  Change  in  my  Prospects. 

VI.  The  Sorrows  of  Dependence. 

VII.  George  Harrison. 

VIII.  Ungratifled  Curiosity. 

IX.  A  Portrait. 

X.  Dreams. 

XI.  My  First  Love. 

XII.  I  Forfeit  my  Independence. 

XIII.  A  Visit  from  the  Great  Man  of 

the  Family. 

XIV.  Love  and  Hatred. 

XV.  George  Harrison  tells  his  History 

XVI.  George   Harrison   continues  his 

History, 

i   VII.  He  finds  a  Friend  in  Need. 


CHAPTER 

XVIII.  The  Meeting. 

XIX.  Light  Come— Light  Go. 

XX.  Alice. 

XXI.  My  Visit  to  Moncton  Park. 

XXII.  A  Sad  Event. 

XXIII.  A  Discovery. 

XXIV.  My  Second  Interview  with  Dinah 

North. 

XXV.  An    Explanation  — Departure  — 

Disappointment. 
XXVI.    Elm  Grove. 
XXVII.     My  Nurse  and  Who  She  Was. 
XXVIII.    My  Letters. 
XXIX.     A  Welcome  and  Unwelcome  Meet- 

ing. 

XXX.     Dinah's  Confession. 

XXXI.    Retributive  Justice. 

XXXII.    The  Double  Bridal. 


W.  H.  TINSON,  Printer  and  Stereotyper,  94  Beekman  Street,  N.  Y. 


•A    TREASURY  OF  REAL  INTELLECTUAL  PLEASURE  AND  PROFITS 


A  NEW,  REVISED  EDITION  (THE  NINTH,) 

SALAD  FOR  THE  SOLITARY. 

BY    AN    EPICURE. 

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The  critical  notices  of  this  popular  work  in  this  country  and  Europe, 
have  been  so  extended  and  enthusiastic,  that  they  would  fill  a  volume  of 
many  pages.  A  few  brief  extracts  from  these  will  afford  a  glimpse  of  the 
nature  of  the  work. 

(From  Sharpens  London  Magazine.) 

"  The  book  is  one  of  the  most  cheerful  that  could  be  conceived ;  it  is  brimful  of  pleasing 
varieties,  gathered  from  all  kinds  of  out-of-the-way  sources;  and  carries  unmistakably 
the  marks  of  having  been  written  by  one  who,  having  read  a  good  deal,  and  observed  a 
great  deal,  has  mastered  the  happy  secret  of  putting  into  an  attractive  form  the  result  of 
both." 

(From  the  London  Athenaeum.) 

"  *  Our  Epicure '  is  a  literary  gossip  of  the  pleasantest  sort.  He  has  read  much,  and 
noted  his  reading ;  read  with  his  mind  awake,  and  with  his  heart  open  to  the  appeals  of 
beauty.  He  piles  up  for  the  reader's  delectation,  thought,  fancy,  anecdote, — with  a  new 
flavor  and  fresli  pungency." 

(From  the  London  Morning  Chronicle.) 

"  It  may  well  be  termed  a  salad,  for  the  ingredients  are  gathered  with  a  discriminating 
hand  from  the  rich  garden  of  literature.  In  every  chapter  is  much  variety :  it  is  a  mass 
of  curious  and  entertaining  reading." 

(From  the  London  Morning  Herald.) 

"Every  chapter  of  this  entertaining  book  would  tempt  a  man  to  seek  solitude  for  the 
pleasure  of  enjoying  the  intellectual  treat." 

(From  the  London  Globe) 
"  A  quaint  and  curious  volume  of  forgotten  lore." 

(From  the  New  York  Express.) 

"  Every  page  is  rich  with  rare  and  well-digested  thoughts — expressed  after  a  fashion 
that  strikes  us  as  both  original  and  elegant.    In  a  word,-  it  possesses  the  aroma  of  many 
minds,  blended  with  a  genius  that  can  appreciate  and  create." 
(From  the  Courier  and  Enquirer.) 

"  A  bonne  louche  for  a  quiet  hour's  enjoyment.  It  is  a  book  which  ignorant  men  may 
read,  and  appear  learned  upon  the  fruits  of  the  author's  labor.  Such  a  book  must  needs 
be  popular." 

(  Washington  Irving.) 

"  A  salad  peculiarly  to  my  taste,  and  which  I  have  relished  with  somewhat  the  curious 
palate  of  a  literary  epicure." 

pSf~Thc  above  work  will  be  forwarded  by  mail,  free  of  postage,  on  receipt  of  price. 

ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  PUBLISHER, 

160  &  162  NASSAU  STREET,  N.  Y. 

W.  H.  TINSON,  Printer  &  Stereotyper,  24  Beekman  Street,  N.  Y. 


GREAT  NATIONAL  WORK. 
OFF-HAND  TAKINGS;   OR,    CRAYON   SKETCHES 

OF  THE  NOTICEABLE  MEN  OP  OUR  AGR 

BY  GEORGE  W.  BDNGAY. 

EnibelMshed  with  Nineteen  Portraits  on  Steel.  Elegantly  bound  in  cloth.  Price  $1  50. 

This  is  a  work  that  should  be  in  th«  hands  of  every  American  who  is  proud  of  his 
country,  and  of  the  men  who  have  helped  to  render  that  country  honored  abroad  by 
their  contributions  in  Literature,  Science,  Commerce  or  Arts.  Though  some  of  the  per- 
sons  in  the  following  list  are  handled  pretty  roughly,  still,  we  think  most  persons  will  allow 
that  the  hard  treatment  they  get  is  deserved. 

The  Book  is  well  printed  on  beautiful  paper,  embellished  with  Nineteen  Portraits,  en 
graved  on  Steel,  in  the  finest  style  of  the  art. 


Daniel  Webster. 

Henry  Clay. 

Edwin  H.  Chapin  (portrait). 

John  Charles  Fremont. 

G.  P.  Morris  and  N.  P.  Willis. 

Wm.  H.  Seward  (portrait). 

Edw.  Everett  (portrait). 

John  P.  Hale  (portrait). 

Father  Taylor. 

John  C.  Calhoun. 

Lewis  Cass. 

Charles  C.  Burleigh. 

H.  Ward  Beecher  (portrait). 

Abbot  Lawrence. 

Ralph  Walde  Emerson. 

J.  Van  Buren  (portrait). 

John  Greenleaf  Whittier. 

Washington  Irving. 

G.  W.  Bethune. 

E.  P.  Whipple. 

G.  C.  Hebbe  (portrait). 

Rufus  Choate. 

Horace  Mann. 

Dr.  Boardman. 


CONTENTS. 

Solon  Robinson  (portrait.) 

John  Ross  Dix. 

P.  T.  Barnum  (portrait). 

Dr.  E.  Kane. 

Nathaniel  Hawthorne. 

Samuel  F.  B.  Morse. 

Geo.  W.  Kendall. 

Saml.  Houston  (portrait). 

Pierre  Soule. 

W.  Thackeray. 

John  Plerpont. 

Horace  Greeley  (portrait). 

George  N.  Briggs. 

Theodore  Parker. 

Neal  Dow  (portrait). 

Philip  S.  White. 

Charles  Sumner. 

Ogden  Hoffman  (portrait). 

Thomas  Francis  Meagher. 

Wendell  Philips. 

Elihu  Burritt. 

Wm.  C.  Byrant  (portrait) . 

Daniel  S.  Dickinson. 

General  Winfield  Scott. 


Gerrit  Smith  (portrait). 

Edward  Beecher.     ^ 

Thos.  H.  Ben  ton  (portrait). 

Wm.  L.  Marcy. 

Alfred  Bunn. 

Peter  Cartwright. 

Anson  Burlingame. 

George  Law  (portrait). 

Dr.  J.  W.  Francis.      ' 

Dr.  S.  H.  Cox. 

Freeman  Hunt. 

B.  P.  Shillaber. 

Bishop  James. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wadsworth. 

Rev.  Dr.  Durbin. 

8.  A.  Douglas  (portrait). 

W.  Gilmore  Simms. 

James  Gordon  Bennett. 

Caleb  Cushing. 

James  Watson  Webb. 

Dr.  Duffield. 

J.  R.  Lowell. 

John  Mitchel  (portrait). 

And  others. 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  PRESS. 

The  following  very  brief  extracts  from  extended  notices  of  the  book  by  leading 
papers,  will  give  the  public  some  idea  of  the  estimation  placed  upon  it. 

From  The  Commonwealth,  Boston. 

"  The  book  will  sell— it  will  be  read— it  will  have  a  wide  popularity.  It  is  written  in  the 
right  way  for  it,  and  if  the  author  don't  get  his  10,000  from  it  we  very  much  mistake 
figures.  He  writes  like  a  man  who  is  fully  wide  awake  ;  his  portraits  sparkle  with  vitality. 
The  engravings  are  superb,  and  the  letter  press  excellent;  the  binding  gala-ish.  Get  the 
book  if  you  want  one  that  will  take  your  arm  and  be  an  agreeable  companion." 

From  The  Christian  Freeman,  Boston. 

"  He  never  allaws  anything  like  dulness  to  flow  from  his  pen.  His  descriptions  are 
graphic  and  to  the  life.  Every  sketch  might  be  termed  a  master  portrait.  Ho  writes 
with  an  independent,  fearless  pen,  without  fear  or  favor." 

From  The  Boston  Traveller. 

"Written  in  a  spotted  and  off-hand  style,  presenting  well-drawn  and  characteristic 
portraits." 

From  The  Newport  News,  R.  L 

"The  portraits  are  dashed  off  with  a  free  and  easy  pencil,  and  art  uncommonly 
natural  and  life-like." 

From  Thojfgis,  Worcester,  Mass. 

Every  one  who  desires  a  knowledge  of  eminent  living  men,  should  have  this  volume." 
We  could  fill  a  volume  with  the  encomiums  already  received  (although  all  parts  of  the 
country  have  not  been  heard  from),  but  we  think  we  do  not  err  in  saying  that  a  more  at 
tractive  book,  both  la  interior  and  exterior,  has  never  been  offered  to  the  public. 

ROBERT  M.   I>E  WITT,  Publisher, 

160  &  162  NASSAU  STREET,  N.  Y. 


THE 


SCALP    HUNTERS; 

OR,  ADVSNTURS3  AMONG  THE  TRAPPERS. 
BY   CAPTAIN   MAYNE   REID, 

AUTHOK   OF   "RIFLE   RANGERS,"    u  THE    WHITE   CHIEF,"    "HUNTERS'   FEAST,"   ETC.,    ETC. 

One  volume,  12wo.,  Beautifully  Illustrated.  •   Clot.h,  Price  $1  25. 


So  marked  was  the  success  of  the  "  RIFLK  RANGERS,"  both  in  this  country  and  In 
Europe,  that  the  author  was  induced  to  puhlish  at  an  early  dajs  the  volume  whose  title 
heads  this  page ;  a  work  of  more  thrilling  adventure,  bolder  incident,  and  glowing  descrip 
tion  than  had  ever  before  appeared  in  the  same  field  of  literature.  These  two  books 
speedily  achieved  a  high  reputation  for  the  writer,  which  he  has  sedulously  striven  to 
enhance  by  the  publication  of  several  other  works  of  a  somewhat  kindred  character.  In 
all  of  these  volumes  has  the  powerful  descriptive  faculty  of  the  author  stood  out  in  bold 
relief,  and  marked  him  as  the  DE  FOE  of  AMERICA.  The  Publishers  are  happy  to  say  that 
having  secured  the  right  to  publish  all  of  this  series,  they  are  enabled  to  offer  to  the 
public  a  collection  of  volumes,  which  in  point  of  intense  'interest,  are  not  only  unsur 
passed,  but  seldom  equalled.  .  A  brief  Synopsis  of  Contents  will  be  found  below. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTKR 

I.  The  Wild  West. 
II.  The  Prairie  Merchants. 
III.  The  "  Prairie  Fever." 
IV.  Ride  upon  a  Buffalo  Bull. 
V.  In  a  Bad  "  Fix." 
VI.  Santa  Fe. 
VII.  The  Fandango. 
VIII.  Seguin,  the  Scalp-Hunter. 
IX.  Left  Behind. 
X.  The  Del  Norte. 
XI.  The  "Journey  of  Death." 
XII.  Zoe. 

XIII.  Seguin. 

XIV.  Love. 

XV.  Light  and  Shade. 
XVI.  An  Autobiography. 
XVII.  Up  the  Del  Norte. 
XVI II.  Geography  and  Geology. 
XIX.  The  Scalp-Hunters. 
XX.  Sharp-Shooting. 
XXI.  A  Feat  a  la  Tell. 
XXII.  A  Feat  a  la  Tail. 

XXIII.  T.ie  Programme. 

XXIV.  El  Sol  and  La  Luna. 
XXV.  The  War-Trail. 

XXVI.  Three  Days  in  the  Trap. 
XXVII.  The  Diggers. 
XXVIII.  Dacoma. 
XXIX.  A  Dinner  with  two  Dishes. 


CHAPTER 
XXX. 

XXXI. 

XXXII. 

XXXIII. 

XXXIV. 

XXXV. 

XXXVI. 

XXXVII. 

XXXVIII. 

XXXI X. 

XL. 

XLI. 

XLII. 

XLIII. 

XLIV. 

XLV. 

XLVI. 

XL  VII 

XL  VI II. 

XLIX. 

L. 

LI 

LII. 

LIII. 

LIV. 

LV. 

LVI 

LVII. 


Blinding  the  Pursuer — A  Trap 
per's  Ruse. 

A  Buffalo  "  Surround." 
Another  "Coup." 
A  Bitter  Tap. 
The  Phantom  City. 
The  Mountain  of  Gold. 


Navajoa. 
The  Night 


ight  Ambuscade. 
Adele. 

The  White  Scalp. 
The  Canon  Fight. 
The  Barranca. 
The  Foe. 
New  Misery. 
The  Flag  of  Truce. 
A  Vexed  Treaty. 
A  Conflict  with  closed  Doors. 
A  Queer  Encounter  in  a  Cave. 
Smoked  Out. 

A  Novel  Mode  of  Equation. 
A  Fast  Dye. 

Astonishing  the  Natives. 
Running  a  Muck. 
A  Conflict  upon  a  Cliff. 
An  Unexpected  Rencontre. 
The  Rescue. 
K!  Paso  Del  Norte. 
Touching  the  Chords  of  Memory. 


The   above  work  will  be  forwarded  by  Mail,  free  of  postage,  on 
receipt  of  price. 

ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  PUBLISHER, 

160  &  162  NASSAU  STREET,  N.  Y. 

W    H.  TIN8ON,  Printer  &  Stereotyper,  24  Beekman  St.,  N.  Y. 


A   VALUABLE    HOUSEHOLD    BOOK. 


TH 


OF 


A  NEW  YORK  SURGEON, 

BY     EDWARD     H.     DIXON,     M.D., 

EDITOR    OP    THE    "SCALPEL." 

Embellished  with  Eight  Exquisite  Engravings,  from  original  Designs,  by  DARLKT, 
Engraved  by  N.  ORK.     Elegantly  bound  in  cloth,  gilt.     Price,  $1  25. 

This  highly  interesting  work  is  the  embodiment  of  much  that  is  valuable  in  science  and 
striking  in  incident.  The  facts  and  narratives  here  grouped  together  have  been  gleaned 
during  a  practice  both  varied  and  lengthy,  and  from  sources  the  most  diverse  both  in 
means  ami  matter.  The  canopied  couch  and  the  lowly  pallet  —  pampered  luxury  and 
starved  mendicity  —  have  each  contributed  to  illustrate  some  of  those  phases,  the  peculi 
arity  of  which  has  led  many  a  reflecting  mind  to  exclaim  —  "Verily,  life  is  a  mystery,  and 
death  the  solution  thereof!" 

"  Let  us  hope  that,  whatever  truths  useful  to  humanity  may  be  found  within  these 
pages,  will  live  for  a  little  while  after  the  hand  that  sketched  them  is  resolved  into  its 
elements,  and  mingled  with  the  atmosphere  and  the  earth  whence  it  originated." 

The  following  is  but  a  small  portion  of  the  Contents  : 

Importance  of  Truth  in 
Education.  —  The  Right  of 
Discovery  —  Fairy  Stories  — 
Children  should  behold  Truth 
in  their  Parents. 

Scenes  in  a  Western  Phy- 
tician't  Life.  —  What  is  Me 
mory?  —  College  Life  in  the 
Country  —  The  Pious  Student 
—The  Orphan  Betrayed—  The 
Robin's  Nest—  Maternal  Re 
flections  —  What  is  Love  ?  — 
The  Funeral  Pile  :  what  is  its 
Philosophy  ? 

Functions  of  the  Skin.— 
Cold  Fatal  to  Infants. 

Scenes  in  City  Practice.  — 
1.  Death's  Quartette  in  a  Gar 
ret  —  Delirium  Tremens  —  2. 
Prccariousness  of  Medical 
Life  in  New  York—  A  Profes 
sional  Martyr  —  The  Curse  of 
an  Irish  Practice  —  Death  of 
the  Physician,  his  Widow 
and  Child—  Parental  Love  — 
Mercantile  Aflection  —  The 
Love  of  Money. 

ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  PUBLISHER, 

160  ft  162  NASSAU  STREET,  N.  Y. 


The  Nerve  Power. — What  Scenes  in  Southern  Prac- 
is  the  Nature  of  the  Nerve '<tce. — King  Death  in  his  Yel- 
Power? — Its  action  on  our, low  Robe — The  Proud  Mer- 
Bodies,  under  the  various] chant  —  The  Lovely  Creole 
Stimuli— Its  Tower  ovi-r  the  Wife. 

"-     Croup.  —  What  is 


Contraction  of  the  Muscle 
The  Influence  of  Prolonged 
Inspiration  in  Curing  Dis 
eases  and  in  giving  strength 
to  Hie  Body — How  docs  it 
compare  with  other  Systems 
of  Cure? 

On  Ilooj'ing  Cough.— 
What  is  Hooping  Cough? 
—  Period  o  Occur 


First  Symptoms— Subtle  Cha- 
;f    of    the    Contagion  — 


On     ..  ,_, 

Jroup9 — Its  Symptoms  and 
Treatment. 

Scarlet  Fever. — What  are 
the  Causes  of  its  Dreadful 
Fatality  ?— Has  Medicine  any 
control  over  it? 

Recollections  of  City 
Practice.  —  Privation  —  Our 
Two  Lodgers  — A  Faithful 
Sister — First  Affection  —  An 
Unworthy  Object — The  Art- 
Young 


racier  of  the  Contagion —  Unworthy  Object — The  Art- 
Period  of  Duration.  —  Its  |  Jess  Victim  —  The  Young 
usual  Attendants — Manner  Mother— The  Wedding — Ma- 
of  Treatment — Has  Medicine  ternal*  Love— The  Legacy — 
any  power  over  it?  j  The  Closing  Scene. 


THE 


WHITE    CHIEF. 

OK      <%&          K.        t    Oifr      if      Q/fW      * 

&  JUpa  of  |lmb  gtar, 

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BY 

CAPTAIN  MAY1STE  EEID, 

AUTHOR  OF  "RIFLE  RANGERS,"  "SCALP  HUNTERS,"  "HUNTERS'  FEAST,"  ETC.,  KTC. 
One  volume,  12mo.,  Beautifully  Illustrated.     Cloth,  Price  $1  25. 

This  is  another  of  those  popular  works  of  adventure  which  have 
taken  such  a  hold  of  the  American  public  —  adapted  as  they  are  to  rouse 
all  that  feeling  of  enthusiasm  and  thirst  for  bold  deeds  which  seems 
to  be  inherent  in  the  breasts  of  our  people.  Few  writers  have  risen 
to  such  popularity  in  so  short  a  time.  The  SCALP  HUNTERS  —  RIFLK 
RANGERS  —  HUNTERS'  FEAST  and  WHITE  CHIEF,  form  a  library  in  them 
selves,  for  they  contain  not  only  thrilling  narratives  of  Wild  Wood  Life, 
but  are  full  of  information  as  to  the  habits  and  natural  history  of  the 
denizens  of  the  woods  and  forests,  lakes  and  streams,  be  they  four-legged 
or  two-legged,  or  no  legs  at  all. 

We  commend  these  volumes  to  all  who  wish  to  combine  in  their 
reading  utility  with  amusement. 


The  above  work  will  be  forwarded  by  Mail,  free  of  postage,  on 
receipt  of  price. 

ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  PUBLISHER, 

160  &  162  NASSAU  STREET,  N.  Y. 

W.  H.  TINSON,  Printer  &  Stereotyper,  24  Beekman  St.,  N.  Y. 


